Originally known as the Vespa Jet, designed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in a joint venture with Piaggio who built and flew the prototype in August 1964. Piaggio took over the project in 1967 and went on to build a total of 24, of which 22 served with the Italian AF. I-PIAI, one of the two company demonstrators, crashed into Mount Jaizkibel near San Sebastian in Spain on 18th June 1968 killing all six on board including businessman Lino Zanussi