Pipistrel

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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, and was the first private aircraft company in Yugoslavia. Due to legal restrictions imposed by the Yugoslavian government during the 1980s on flying alternatives and ultra-light aircraft, the first aircraft was 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. 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

File:Pipistrel Sinus.jpg
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

File:Pipistrel Taurus G4 take-off at 2011 Green Flight Challenge.jpg
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

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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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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