The Piaggio P.149 was a 4-seat touring development of the P.148, a 2-seat side-by-side
all metal trainer with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The prototype of the P.149 (I-PIAM c/n 171)
with a 260 hp Avco Lycoming GO-435-C2 engine and a retractable tri-gear flew first on 19 June 1953.
Two years later the P.149 was selected by the Federal German Air Force as a standard basic training
and liaison monoplane. To meet their requirements a 2-seat military trainer version of the P.149 with
glazed cabin roof, deeper rear fuselage and a 280 hp Lycoming GO-480 engine was developed, designated
P.149-D. The Federal German Air Force (Luftwaffe der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) ordered 265 Piaggio
P.149D for use as a 2-seat primary trainer and 5-seat liaison aircraft. Piaggio built 76, including
one which was written off before delivery. Focke-Wulf built 190 under licence from Piaggio. The first
Piaggio built P.149D (AS+401 c/n 250) was delivered to Memmingen Air Base in May 1957. In the mean time
Focke-Wulf had started production in Bremen, Germany and delivered its first example in November 1957.
Piaggio FWP.149D s/n 081 was one of the 190 built by Focke-Wulf under licence from Piaggio and entered service with
the Luftwaffe FFS-S (Flugzeugführerschule "S") as AS+490. In service with the Luftwaffe the aircraft was re-serialed JD+391 with JG74;
JA+391 with JG71 and finally 90+63. After the Luftwaffe withdrew the aircraft from use, the 9063
entered the German civil register as D-EHVO. The registration was cancelled after the aircraft was written off
on 20 May 1996. The plane was rebuilt and registered again D-EHVO in June 1999.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
