ConnectJets and Piaggio Aerospace showcase the Avanti EVO
Piaggio Avanti EVO at Biggin Hill
A day after the Air Charter Expo at London Biggin Hill Airport, ConnectJets and Piaggio Aerospace invited some guests and customers to experience the six-seat Avanti EVO twin-engine turboprop.
The Avanti EVO was displayed at ACE 2017 and was then worked by Piaggio from Biggin Hill’s Signature Flight Support facility the next day.
During the day, we also met companies that have partnered with ConnectJets: Honest Grapes, Aromatherapy Associates and LONB (Love or Nothing Baby). They all displayed what they bring to the greener luxury lifestyle approach supported by ConnectJets.
Tom Harrow of Honest Grapes showed a range of sparkling wines. Aromatherapy Associates showcased its luxury facial, bath and shower oils and skincare products. And LONB (Love or Nothing Baby) displayed some leather luggage.
ConnectJets and Piaggio Aerospace are supporters of green flying and they say that the Avanti EVO is one of the greenest aircraft currently in production.
After boarding the aircraft, accompanied by Filippo Tritonj, Piaggio Aerospace’s regional sales director, it took off on a 30-minute flight around Kent. Even when both engines were on full power, you could speak without raising your voice in the passenger cabin. The level of noise from the engines is a worry for most customers; from the clip, you can hear how quiet the engines are.
The six-seat configuration allows for a lavatory to be fitted at the rear and leg-room means no knee-knocking, even for those who are over six feet tall.
After take-off, we climbed and headed east to about 3,000 feet. Soon we came to the Kent coast, flying over Manston Airport, then along the North Kent coast and the Thames Estuary. We pasted over the Queen Elizabeth II bridge at Dartford before returning to land at Biggin Hill.
After landing and returning to the Signature Flight Support lounge, Renato Vaghi, chief commercial officer, spoke to me before he returned to Italy. Hear what he has to say about running the company.
