Fastest propeller-driven vehicle

What to remember

On 6 February 2003, Joseph J. Ritchie and Steve Fossett flew a Piaggio P.180 Avanti at 927.4 km/h, or 576.3 mph, around Mach 0.85. The FAI certified the run, the highest speed for a propeller-driven vehicle.

The Avanti is an executive light transport aircraft designed by Piaggio Aero and built in Italy. Its outline is easy to spot thanks to its three-surface layout: a small forward canard wing, the main wing and a conventional tailplane. Its twin wing-mounted turboprop engines drive propellers in a pusher configuration.

Inside, the pressurized cabin seats up to nine people, and the aircraft may be flown by one or two pilots. The main wing spars pass behind the passenger cabin.