POPA

The Avanti's canard is not what is known as a "true canard," and it therefore does not suffer from the possible CG limits that come with a canard configuration.
Additionally, if you manage to get a canard-equipped aircraft into a full stall, you probably shouldn't be flying. One of the main advantages to a canard is that it will stall first, thus dropping the nose and lowering the AOA of the wings.

Cubdriver

Starship was based on the Long EZ, the famous Rutan design which is one of the most docile and controllable airplanes ever made. They are reportedly unspinnable and as mentioned they tend to correct in an incipient stall by the canard dropping first. I wouldn't call it an advantage since it's a necessity in the design. The most important characteristic of a true canard-type design is that a lifting surface is mounted forward of the CG, so if the main wings were to stall first and a spin were to develop there would be no hope of control as the main wing will drop out from under the canard and both are fully stalled. In a normal tail-mounted horizontal stabilizer-elevator design the main wing will stall first, so there is chance of regaining control because the stab and rudder will be tilted down to a lower angle of attack. The main wing on a canard airplane is swept to extend the rudder moment arm and enhance rudder authority as there is no aft tail location to put a rudder, and sweep helps put the lift back as far as possible for stability against the canard being forward of the CG. Swept wings are useful on canard aircraft even though swept wings have less lift at low speeds; it reduces drag at high speed but not low enough to be of use to a Long EZ or Starship.

The high efficiency of Rutans aircraft are their best feature, they don't waste as much energy using counterbalanced lifting surfaces as do conventional aircraft. A production model should be put out by one of the large manufacturers like Northrup Grumman, who recently bought Scaled Composites. Even if that doesn't happen his aerodynamic work has still influenced light aircraft design such Paiggio Avanti even if it falls short of a having a full canard.

C212135

Looking for Max Endurance (Hours) and range (NM) for the Avanti II if anyone knows. Thanks for the help.

III Corps

You might try the company website at http://www.piaggioaero.com/en/

This page shows an adjustable range chart. http://tinyurl.com/yfj4r2

Ftrooppilot

Another interesting Italian design built in France prior to WWII was the Bugatti 100. It never flew but had design features years in advance of the aircraft of the time.

http://www.airventuremuseum.org/coll...00%20Racer.asp

III Corps

An extraordinary airplane at the EAA museum. We were there recently and the workmanship on the airplane is very good. A beautiful airplane even if it never flew. Small cockpit but what a machine!

DamonMeyer

Absolutely. I got better than 21 mpg over the ground in my Cozy (3-seat variant of the Long-EZ), which I bought specifically for the speed, range, and efficiency.

Bri85

The P180 are beautiful planes, Avantair has a pretty big fleet on St. Pete I always see a few everytime I fly there. As well Allegiant's Mad Dogs And UPS 76s...

JohnBurke

The Piaggio doesn't have a canard; it has a forward wing. It doesn't suffer from a small CG envelope. It's got the same fuel economy as a King Air, but flies at FL410. It's much quieter, and goes a lot faster. It has a bigger cabin.