In the world of electric aviation, new aircraft designs often draw from the past—and one of the most fascinating modern adaptations takes direct inspiration from one of aviation’s most iconic and underappreciated designs: the Piaggio P.180 Avanti.
A Masterpiece of Italian Engineering
Known for its distinctive appearance and exceptional performance, the Piaggio Avanti defied aviation conventions when it debuted in 1986. Unlike traditional business jets, the Avanti featured:
- A three-surface design (canards, main wing, tailplane)
- A pusher turboprop configuration
- An airfoil-shaped fuselage that contributes up to 20% of total lift
This innovative layout significantly reduced both drag and weight. Despite being a turboprop, the Avanti delivers jet-like speeds, and is officially recognized by the World Air Sports Federation as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, with a top speed of 927.4 km/h (576.3 mph or 500.8 knots).
Efficiency That Rivals Jets
The P.180 isn’t just fast—it’s also incredibly fuel-efficient. Compared to a jet like the Cessna Citation CJ1+, the Avanti offers:
- Up to 40% better fuel economy
- 3.4 km/kg fuel consumption vs. 2.0 km/kg
- Smoother airflow, thanks to extensive laminar flow over the wings and fuselage
Piaggio’s design allows for laminar flow over 50% of the wing chord—more than double that of conventional turboprops—resulting in less drag and lower fuel burn.
With such a sleek, efficient design, the Avanti seems like a natural candidate for electrification. That’s where VoltAero’s Cassio series enters the picture.
Introducing the VoltAero Cassio: Inspired by a Legend
VoltAero, a French aerospace company, is developing a series of hybrid-electric aircraft that build on the aerodynamic legacy of the Piaggio Avanti while integrating next-generation electric propulsion.
Cassio vs. Avanti: Key Differences
While the Avanti uses dual wing-mounted pushers, the Cassio aircraft features a single aft-mounted pusher propeller. This configuration is designed to:
- Keep airflow clean over the wings
- Enable Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI), which re-energizes slow-moving air around the fuselage and reduces drag by up to 8–10%
This approach is similar to what Otto Aviation employed with the Celera 500L, another efficiency-driven design.
Cassio Series Lineup
VoltAero plans to introduce three models in the Cassio 2 series, all powered by hybrid-electric systems:
- Cassio 330: 5 seats, 330 kW
- Cassio 480: 6 seats, 480 kW
- Cassio 600: 10–12 seats, 600 kW
Each version will offer hybrid cruising, with the combustion engine recharging batteries when their state of charge drops to 20%. This strategy allows for:
- Fuel savings of up to 20%
- Electric taxiing and takeoff for lower noise and emissions
- Cruise speeds of over 200 knots
- Range of up to 800 miles
Proven Testing & Evolution
VoltAero’s electric aviation journey began with Cassio 1, a hybrid prototype based on the Cessna 337 Skymaster. This aircraft completed over 100 successful test flights, gathering data across thousands of miles. VoltAero, like Ampaire (which also used the Skymaster platform), used these flights to validate its propulsion architecture.
Now, with the Cassio 2 series, the company is taking a bold step forward—applying the lessons learned to a purpose-built, production-ready aircraft.
The Future Takes Flight
By combining the aerodynamic brilliance of the Piaggio P.180 with modern electric propulsion and boundary layer engineering, VoltAero’s Cassio series aims to deliver a new standard in regional aviation—efficient, quiet, and sustainable.
As the electric aviation industry continues to evolve, designs like the Cassio prove that the future doesn’t have to forget the past—sometimes, it’s inspired by it.