Pipistrel

For the genus of bat, see Pipistrellus.
Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina
Private
Industry Ultralight aviation
Founded 1987
Headquarters Ajdovščina, Slovenia
Key people
 Ivo Boscarol, Chairman
Products Ultralight aviation
Number of employees
 85
Website http://www.pipistrel.si

Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer established in 1987 by Ivo Boscarol and based in Ajdovščina. Due to legal restrictions imposed by the Yugoslavian government during the 1980s, flying alternative and ultra-light aircraft was illegal. This led to the first aircraft being flown secretly in the evening, between dusk and dark. The flying times and shape of the hang-glider style wings earned the aircraft the nickname "bats" which was adopted by the company naming themselves after the Latin word for bat, pipistrellus.[1]

Its facilities are located in Ajdovščina and near the town of Gorizia, Italy. The company was first private aircraft company in Yugoslavia. Up to the 1990s more than 500 hang gliders were produced and up to year 2012 more than 1000 aircraft were produced, the year company employed 85 people.[1][2]

History

On 12 October 2015 Pipistrel won an international tender, issued by the Indian Ministry of Defence, to supply 194 light trainers to the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and National Cadet Corps.[3][4] The two-seat Pipistrel Virus SW 80 aircraft, known as the Garud after a bird in Hindu mythology, will be used for training of Flight Safety and Air Wing Cadets and the entire quantity of 194 aircraft must be delivered 30 months from the day of the first delivery.[3][4] The contract includes an option for an additional 100 aircraft within the third year.[3][4] Pipistrel will also supply spare engines, ground support equipment and tools, special multi-year spare parts packs, extended 10-year product support, as well as train a large number of aircrew, instructors and technical staff.[3][4] The Indian personnel will be trained by a Pipistrel's partner company from Slovenia, the Pipistrel Academy, which trains pilots and new instructors.[3][4]

Awards & records

Pipistrel Sinus

In 2001, Philippe Zen and Thomas Knowles flew a Pipistrel Sinus at the World Air Games in Spain and won first place in the two-seat category.

A modified Pipistrel Virus SW owned by Vance Turner and flown by Australian Michael Coates won two NASA Centennial Challenges, the Personal Air Vehicle Challenge in 2007[5] and the General Aviation Technology Challenge in 2008.[6]

Pipistrel won the The UKTI Award for Innovation in 2010, this was the first time a Slovenian company had won a category of the European Business Awards.[7]

In 2011, the company, in collaboration with faculty from Penn State University, won the CAFE/NASA/Google Green Flight Challenge for energy-efficient aircraft with its four-seater electric plane Taurus G4.[8] The Taurus G4 is the first all-electric four seater aircraft in the world[9] and boasts the most powerful electric motor ever used in an all-electric airplane design.[10]

Pipistrel Apis holds 10 FAI world records.[11]

Aircraft

Pipistrel Taurus G4 take-off at 2011 Green Flight Challenge

The company also produces the Flight Team Spider ultralight trike under sub contract to Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim, Germany.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Lawrence, James (January 2012), "Light-Sport Chronicles: Profiles In Vision: Ivo Boscarol", Plane & Pilot (Los Angeles, CA), retrieved 4 December 2014
  2. ↑ "Learning to fly with SPIRIT Slovenia". Spirit Slovenia Public Agency. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 G. C., G. K. (12 October 2015). "Pipistrel to deliver six to seven planes each month to Indian Armed Forces" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija official website. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Pipistrel signs huge microlight deal with India" (in Slovenian). FLYER official website. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Pipistrel Virus The Big Winner At PAV Challenge". EAA News. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pipistrel Team Again the Big Winner in NASA GA Technology Challenge". EAA News. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Pipistrel winner 2010 The UKTI Award for Innovation". European Business Awards. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Steitz, Dave & Anderson, Janet (3 October 2011). "NASA Awards Historic Green Aviation Prize". NASA. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Wittman Regional Airport Sees First Flight For Taurus G4". Aero-News Network. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Paur, Jason (8 August 2011). "Electric Airplane Has 4 Seats, Two Fuselages, One Big Motor". Wired. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Pipistrel Apis/Bee". Pipistrel company website. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  12. ↑ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 211. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

External links

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