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The P.68 Observer, a transparent-nosed, dashboard-less variant of the already unusual high-winged twin built by Italian state-owned Partenavia for law enforcement use

Posted by Cessnaporsche01@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 42 comments

The P.68 Observer, a transparent-nosed, dashboard-less variant of the already unusual high-winged twin built by Italian state-owned Partenavia for law enforcement use

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42 Comments

barrel_stinker@reddit

That’s an interesting registration…I guess its purpose is to find things?
View on Reddit #77329602

Cunning_Linguist21@reddit

Perhaps it's purpose is to find its, "special purpose"....
View on Reddit #77350219

bzdelta@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/2w9kpllaifhg1.jpeg?width=2304&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88944333cef4eb17ab51507910950691354e1107
View on Reddit #77590179

Cessnaporsche01@reddit (OP)

Pay no attention to the weird plane's registration marking!
View on Reddit #77329713

magnificentfoxes@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/buihjfpe9tgg1.jpeg?width=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62b27b322fe5619dfbcde57d94f2fc7708c244f5
View on Reddit #77348757

Ok_Opposite_8967@reddit

It would be an interesting news story if these two planes had a runway incursion, where D-ILDO crashed into G-SPOT
View on Reddit #77558685

Batmagoo58@reddit

And here I was, thinking it didn't exist! Boy! Do I feel dumb!
View on Reddit #77474970

Sad-Umpire6000@reddit

My neighbor has a Partenavia P68, albeit with the conventional nose. Cramped cockpit - not fun twisting and stretching to get into the front seats. The passenger seats are pretty good. Performance-wise, it’s about like his previous plane - a Piper PA-32 Lance. The Partenavia isn’t a bad plane at all, but is definitely a light twin. It’s maybe in the same class as a Seminole.
View on Reddit #77410412

squeaki@reddit

Got like 3000hrs in these badboys.
View on Reddit #77362063

BathFullOfDucks@reddit

Ever fly "Golf - Juliet Sierra"?
View on Reddit #77380784

squeaki@reddit

Not that I recall. A lot of Raven callsigns, and Bio. Low level survey stuff y'know.
View on Reddit #77382662

mnp@reddit

Nice view. https://imgproc.airliners.net/photos/airliners/5/8/9/2521985.jpg?v=v40
View on Reddit #77379068

BathFullOfDucks@reddit

The observer nose came after the original version. Originally the two rear windows were oversized to allow observation, on some the windows could be opened or removed really not a great idea though, as the folks in the back are ideally suited to get all the noise and airflow off the engines. On one flight the rear intercom jacks on both sides failed and the folks in the back, no matter how hard they shouted could not be heard from up front, necessitating a very frustrating return. On another while I was in the back the same thing occurred which resulted in a very pleasant flight of me being paid to do absolutely nothing but enjoy the view. The observer nose didn't sell well, basically being sold to government operators and eventually passed on to private hands, so there are more with the original nose than without.
View on Reddit #77380340

platdujour@reddit

Field of view just big enough for law enforcement to look the other way in Mafia cases
View on Reddit #77373060

BathFullOfDucks@reddit

P68 was the first multi engined piston i ever flew and went bsck tonit a few years later. Did enjoy, objectively a pain in the ass. You have to do an awkward crawl/swivel to get under the spar into the front and i was never particularly confident that one could go out the other way quickly if needed. Lost flights and later money because the access to refuel is poor and if the cap is stuck you can't easily get any leverage to get it off, but I did some very fun things in them.
View on Reddit #77330726

CalpisMelonCremeSoda@reddit

This bird is so cool because both the pilot and copilot can look *down* past their feet! Add some bubble windows and the rear passengers can look down too. But yeah if the job is to fly low and get distracted looking down that’s not to the safest thing in the long run.
View on Reddit #77369923

Nodsworthy@reddit

Thank you for sharing your memories
View on Reddit #77336844

BathFullOfDucks@reddit

No worries. There are a few. Getting stuck in Germany, sleeping in the cabin because of an engine issue. Good food and camping under the wing after flying a few people out to a barbecue. Low flying with observers in the back, keeping a visual reference with seaweed. Taking it to airshows with good people. Couple of shenanigans. It wasnt a good aircraft, but it was good to me.
View on Reddit #77341502

GhostPepperDaddy@reddit

My greatest takeaway from this incredible post is that the G-spot is, once again, a fable.
View on Reddit #77335641

njsullyalex@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/ncmj1xa5krgg1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19df14874231c7990517e2c6e96506184950941e
View on Reddit #77331884

Cessnaporsche01@reddit (OP)

https://media1.tenor.com/m/DUHB3rClTaUAAAAC/no-pernalonga.gif
View on Reddit #77332189

dice1111@reddit

Can't find what u guys are talking about...
View on Reddit #77333302

Cessnaporsche01@reddit (OP)

You could try beckoning to it. That makes a lot of things come to you
View on Reddit #77333542

Lint_baby_uvulla@reddit

I’m trying, but I’m getting tired. Should I beckon faster?
View on Reddit #77363778

daygloviking@reddit

Dashboard… You mean an instrument panel, right? It’s not a Ford Fiesta.
View on Reddit #77331043

Cessnaporsche01@reddit (OP)

Nope. It has a panel, but the panel is mounted on a helicopter-style console. Most planes have dash-mounted panels. Afaik it's still called that in a plane. After all, it's not like a Ford Fiesta uses the thing for shielding the driver from a horse
View on Reddit #77331658

daygloviking@reddit

You mean the glare shield then.
View on Reddit #77334649

HuttStuff_Here@reddit

No, they said it how they meant it.
View on Reddit #77363743

girl_incognito@reddit

I didnt fly the observer version but the P.68 is one of the worst airplanes ive ever flown.... but that might have been that particular example, ive only flown the one.
View on Reddit #77340416

SuccessionWarFan@reddit

Please tell us more, sir. What was so bad about it?
View on Reddit #77359224

girl_incognito@reddit

Gutless, uncomfortable, ridiculously heavy controls.
View on Reddit #77359413

Inspi@reddit

I thought it was a myth
View on Reddit #77350599

Cunning_Linguist21@reddit

[The view](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partenavia_P.68#/media/File:WP_Landtagsprojekt_Hessen_-_Polizeifliegerstaffel_Egelsbach_-_IBIS_7_-_010.jpg)
View on Reddit #77350252

Professor_Smartax@reddit

That’s cool looking
View on Reddit #77349020

BRUNO358@reddit

That tail reg though. 😂👌💀
View on Reddit #77330881

wairdone@reddit

About as honest as they get!
View on Reddit #77341776

Specialist-Reason-23@reddit

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/18918 NOOOOO
View on Reddit #77340670

chrisjinna@reddit

Gorgeous.
View on Reddit #77337188

Bumbliciousness@reddit

I loooooove this plane and it's visibility. This and the Optica look goofy, but God, imagine the worldview
View on Reddit #77334200

qtpss@reddit

Keeps motioning to “come here?”
View on Reddit #77332491

autogyrophilia@reddit

Finally! I've found it.
View on Reddit #77331033

HiVeMiNdOfStUpId@reddit

That's the same aircraft registration as Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet.
View on Reddit #77330557