Pipistrel Alpha Trainer
| Alpha Trainer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist's concept of the Alpha Trainer | |
| Role | Light-sport aircraft |
| National origin | Slovenia |
| Manufacturer | Pipistrel |
| Status | In production |
| Produced | May 2012 - present |
| Unit cost |
US$103,000 (2014) |
The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is a Slovenian light-sport aircraft intended specifically for flight training, designed and produced by Pipistrel.[1][2]
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever high-wing, a two-seats in side-by-side configuration, tricycle landing gear and a single 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from composites and features landing gear especially designed for training use. A ballistic parachute is standard equipment along with traditional and cheaper round-dial style flight instruments, rather than a glass cockpit. The design goals include economy of purchase and operation and its initial price of US$85,000 was intended to address moves by Pipistrel's competition in raising prices on their aircraft. In particular the Alpha's price was initially set well below the then-current US$149,000 price announced for the comparable Cessna 162, although by 2014 Pipistrel had raised the price to US$103,000. The fuel consumption is projected to be 2.5 US gallons per hour (9.5 litres per hour).[1][2]
Variants
 Video: Pipistrel Alpha Electro Aero 2015 |
Pipistrel introduced an electric version called the Alpha Electro in 2015 at 100,000 euros, with technology from the Pipistrel WATTsUP proof of concept design, for short training. It has energy for one flight hour plus reserves, and can recharge in 45 minutes or have its batteries replaced in 5 minutes.[3] Instead of 78lb (35.5 kg) of fuel, it has 277 pounds (126 kg) of LiPo cells, however the electric motor weighs less than the gasoline engine. It has a useful load of 380lb, whereas a Cessna 152 has between 350-480lb useful load. The Electro is not certified for USA.[4][5]
Specifications (Alpha Trainer)
Data from AVweb and Pipistrel[1][2][6]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
- Fuel capacity: 13 U.S. gallons (49 L; 11 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912UL four cylinder, horizontally opposed, four stroke aircraft engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Pipistrel custom wood and composite
Performance
- Cruise speed: 108 kn (124 mph; 200 km/h)
- Range: 400 nmi (460 mi; 741 km)
Avionics
- Garmin Aera 500 GPS
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Cessna 162
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Grady, Mary (30 November 2011). "Pipistrel Promises $83K LSA Trainer". AVweb. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Grady, Mary (14 May 2012). "Pipistrel Alpha LSA Trainer Ready To Fly For $85K". AVweb. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ Grady, Mary (14 April 2015). "Pipistrel Introduces Alpha Electro". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ↑ Bertorelli, Paul (15 March 2015). "Will 2015 See Deliverable Electric Airplanes?". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ↑ Grady, Mary (14 April 2015). "Pipistrel Alpha Electro Aero 2015". AVweb. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ Pipistrel (2011). "Pipistrel introduces a fully equipped training aircraft for under $85,000 US". Retrieved 1 December 2011.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pipistrel Alpha Trainer. |
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