By ANN Correspondent Rob Milford

That headline was the pronouncement from Piero Ferrari, the President of Piaggio Aero Industries, as he brought his company's hopes to the NBAA Convention now being held in Orlando (FL), in the form of the speedy Avanti P.180.

The aircraft on display set a speed record on its flight Sunday, zipping from Chicago-Midway (MDW) to Orlando Executive (ORL), taking 2 hours, 18 minutes and 12 seconds to cover the 854 miles, flying along at 29,000' and at a TAS between 396 and 409 for the entire route. Company Chief Test Pilot, Arthur St. Clair, was in the left seat, and his co-pilot, (or should that be CeO-Pilot?) was President Tom Appleton, who described the flight as "something of a non-event."

The ultra-sleek and chic P.180 is billed as the world's most advanced technology twin-turbine, as well as one of the fastest, having set 6 other records in the last year, including a coast-to-coast (San Diego to Charleston, SC) flight in 3:51:52! That worked out to 546.81 miles an hour.

The company also announced at the NBAA kick-off news conference that:

• Its US headquarters is moving from Greenville (SC) to West Palm Beach (FL -- PBI) in the first quarter of 2004.
• Flight Safety will start training for P.180 pilots in a full-flight simulator at their facility in West Palm Beach by mid-2005.
• It has signed a three-year agreement with Stevens Aviation for continued work at their aircraft completion center in Greenville, SC (GYH). The work includes interiors and paint, and is one of six service centers in the US.
• DRVSM (Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) operation has been approved by the FAA, more than 16 months ahead of the FAA deadline.
• 2002 marked the 4th consecutive year of growth, with sales of $142.9 million, double the company's sales in 1999.
• 66 aircraft are now flying (including 37 in North America, 29 in Europe)
• There are 42 firm orders on the books (26-US, 16-Europe)

With those orders in mind, Appleton and Jose Di Mase, CEO of Piaggio Aero Industries,S.p.A. say they are "re-evaluating" the production schedule, which is now turning out 1.5 aircraft per month. The rate could double some time in 2004.

Fractional ownership is also in the future of the Avanti, with one New York-based company now operating two aircraft.

From my perspective, the Avanti P.180 is certainly the most unique-looking aircraft in production and flying today, showing some amazing Italian styling and a real different sound signature from any other twin-turbo now in the air. Now, about that test flight...

FMI: www.piaggioaero.com