05/26/2003. Remarks by Dave Simpson: "In late 1952 Piaggio of Italy began to build the P.149 four-seat aircraft which was an upgrade of their earlier succesfull P.148 two-seat taildragger trainer, 100 were build for the Italian AF. The main buyer was the German AF who bought the P.149D version as a two-seat basic trainer and four-seat liaison aircraft. The prototype flew June 19, 1953 powered by an Avco Lycoming GO-435 of 260 hp. The Piaggio company built 72 aircraft, the first was delivered in May 1957. An additional 190 were built under license in Germany by Focke-Wulf as FWP-149D, the first example was delivered in November 1957.

Your picture is either a P.149-D or a FWP-149D, and unless you look at the manufacturer's placard on the firewall there is really no way to tell them apart."

Engine: 270 hp six-cylinder boxer Avco Lycoming GO-480
Max. speed: 190 mph (305 kmh)
Ceiling: 19,849 ft (6,050 m)
Range: 677 mls (1,090 km)
Weight: 2,557 lb (1,160 kg)
Max. T/O weight: 3,704 lb (1,680 kg)
Span: 36 ft 5.8 in (11.12 m)
Length: 28 ft 10.5 in (8.80 m)
Height: 9ft 6.2 in (2.90 m)
Area: 202.9 sq.ft (18.85 sq.m)