Piaggio P.136

The Piaggio P.136 was an Italian twin-engine amphibian flying boat, with an all-metal hull, pusher propellers, a gull wing, and retractable landing gear.

The prototype first flew in late 1948, and completed certification tests in spring 1949. The Italian Air Force contracted for 14 P.136s for coastal patrol and air-sea rescue. The aircraft was marketed in the United States as the Royal Gull, by Kearney and Trecker. Trecker received three aircraft, and components for another 29, but they also built a few under license.

Variants

 * P.136F
 * Variant with Franklin engines, mainly produced for the Italian Air Force, 18 built.


 * P.136L
 * Variant with Lycoming GO-435 engines, two built and one P.136F converted.


 * P.136L-1
 * Five-seat amphibian flying boat, powered by two 201-kW (270-hp) Avco Lycoming GO-480-B engine, 18 built.


 * P.136L-2
 * Five-seat amphibian flying boat, powered by two 254-kW (340-hp) Avco Lycoming GSO-480 piston engines, 24-assembled in the United States from Italian supplied kits.


 * Royal Gull
 * Both the P.136-L1 and P.136-L2 were marketed in the United States by the Kearney and Trecker Corporation.

Military operators

 * Italian Air Force operated 22 aircraft (14 Piaggio P-136F and eight Piaggio P-136L-1s) from 1951 until 1961
 * Peruvian Air Force – four aircraft (one P.136 and three P.136L-2s)
 * Peruvian Air Force – four aircraft (one P.136 and three P.136L-2s)
 * Peruvian Air Force – four aircraft (one P.136 and three P.136L-2s)