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08/31/2007. In 1938, the Italian AF issued a specification for a high altitude high-speed twin-engine bomber. Piaggio was awarded the contract to built the three-seat prototype, that would be fitted with a pressurized cabin and powered by two specially built 1,000 hp Piaggio P.XII RC.100/2/V 14-cylinder double-row air cooled radials fitted with two-step superchargers. Halfway the construction, the status of the aircraft changed from prototype to research aircraft and would be used to investigate pressurization systems for the planned P.108. The P.111 made its first flight on April 9, 1941. At the beginning of 1943, after making 110 test flights, the aircraft was grounded and subsequently scrapped. Span: 56 ft 9.1 in (17.30 m) Length: 40 ft 8.2 in (12.40 m) Wing area: 431 sq.ft (40.0 sq.m) Empty weight: 5,159 lb (2,340 kg) Gross weight: 11,574 lb (5,250 kg) Max. T/O weight: 16,733 lb (7,590 kg) Max speed: 354 mph at 32,808 ft (570 km/h at 10,000 m) Ceiling: 39,370 ft (12,000 m) Range: 994 mls (1,600 km)