Pipistrel Virus | |
---|---|
Role | Ultralight civil utility aircraft |
National origin | Slovenia |
Manufacturer | Pipistrel |
First flight | August 10, 1999 |
Status | In production |
Produced | 1999-present |
Number built | 1000 (Sinus and Virus family total, March 2019) [1] |
Developed from | Pipistrel Sinus |
Variants | Pipistrel Velis Electro |
The Pipistrel Virus is a two-seat, single engine light aircraft, manufactured by Pipistrel in Slovenia and Italy, and sold as an ultralight, homebuilt kit, or light-sport aircraft. [2] [3] [4]
Introduced in 1999, based on the design of the Pipistrel Sinus, the Virus has been produced in a number of variants with different engines, wingspans, and undercarriage configurations. It can be equipped with a full airframe emergency recovery parachute system.
It is a high-wing, cantilever monoplane of pod-and-boom configuration with a T-tail and air brakes. The cabin has two seats side-by-side. Its fixed undercarriage can be provided in either tricycle or tailwheel configuration. It is available in long wing version (12.5-metre wingspan), powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 engine, or in short wing "SW" version (10.7-metre wingspan), equipped with several options of Rotax 912 and 914 engines. [5] [6]
The Virus SW 121 and Explorer (SW 121A) line of aircraft are rated for intentional spins. [7]
The aviation journalist Paul Bertorelli has criticized the aircraft's design for lack of cabin occupant crashworthiness. However, the manufacturer points out that this kind of issue is typical of aircraft in the LSA category. The design has no history of head trauma during the accidents that have occurred. [8]
By February 2014 Pipistrel had produced more than 600 Sinus/Virus aircraft. [9] Production had reached 1000 aircraft by March 2019. [1]
In April 2016 the Virus SW 121 received an EASA Full Type Certificate. [10] The SW 121 is powered by a Rotax 912 S3 and is designed to meet EASA requirements for a Light Sports Aeroplane. It is the first EASA type-certified (no restrictions, category "normal") aircraft in CS-LSA category for Night VFR operations, Intentional spins and glider-towing. It features an autopilot, dual redundant ADAHRS units and airbrakes. [11]
In January 2022, Pipistel announced a new variant of the SW 121, commercially referred to as Explorer. The new variant, also EASA CS-LSA type-certified, features new Garmin G3X Touch touch-screen avionics and a haptic stall warning system, among other equipment. [12]
The Pipistrel Virus flew for the first time on August 10, 1999. Production began on January 20, 2000. [13]
The development of the short wing version started in 2007. The Virus SW production started in 2008. [13]
The Virus won the NASA 2007 Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) Challenge and the 2008 General Aviation Technology (GAT) Challenge. [14]
On 8 January 2012, Slovenian pilot Matevž Lenarčič launched an around-the-world flight attempt from Slovenia in a turbocharged Virus SW914, sponsored as the GreenLight World Flight. As part of his flight he flew past Mount Everest at an altitude of 8,944 m (29,344 ft), some 90 m (300 ft) above the peak's height; this portion of the journey was not authorized, as Nepal had cancelled his permit to make the flight right before he took off. [15] [16] He completed the flight on 19 April 2012, returning to Slovenia claiming to be the first person to complete such a flight without a copilot and having flown 100,000 km (62,000 miles) during the journey. [17]
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 (72 aircraft), Indian Navy (12 aircraft) and National Cadet Corps (110 aircraft). [18] [19] [20] 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. [18] [19] By September 2019, all 194 aircraft had been delivered. [21] [20]
The different versions of the Virus are flown by private individuals and flight schools worldwide.
Data from Manufacturer [6]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
The Flight Design CT series is a family of high-wing, tricycle undercarriage, two seat, ultralight and light-sport aircraft produced by Flight Design of Germany. The family includes the original CT and the CT2K, CTSW, CTLS and the MC models.
The CSA SportCruiser is a two-seat, single engine, tricycle undercarriage, fixed-wing aircraft that was introduced in 2006 by Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW), now named Czech Sport Aircraft.
Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer established in 1989 by Ivo Boscarol and based in Ajdovščina. Its facilities are located in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and near the town of Gorizia, Italy. By March 2019, Pipistrel had produced more than 2000 aircraft.
The Fantasy Air Allegro is a Czech two seat, high wing, tricycle gear, single engine monoplane light-sport aircraft or microlight originally designed and built by Fantasy Air and later produced in the United States by Allegro LSA.
The Pipistrel Sinus is a two-seat, single-engine ultralight motor glider, developed and manufactured by Pipistrel in Slovenia and Italy. Its design has served as the base for future Pipistrel developments such as the Virus and Alpha Trainer.
The Pipistrel Taurus is a Slovenian self-launched two-seat microlight glider designed and built by Pipistrel.
The Flight Design MC is a German light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Flight Design, introduced at AirVenture in 2008. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
The Tecnam P2008 is a single-engine, high-wing two-seat aircraft built in Italy but aimed at the US market. It is the first Tecnam aircraft to incorporate major composite components. It was introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen 2009 show, with first deliveries in December 2009.
The BRM Aero Bristell NG 5, now called the Bristell Classic, is a Czech low-wing, two-seat in side-by-side configuration, single engine in tractor configuration, ultralight and light-sport aircraft that was designed by Milan Bristela and is produced by BRM Aero. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.
The Sling Aircraft Sling 2, formerly called The Airplane Factory Sling 2, is a South African two-seater light aircraft designed and produced by Sling Aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2009 the specially modified second prototype was flown around the world in a westerly circumnavigation which took 40 days. This was the first time any aircraft of this class had achieved a circumnavigation. The design complies with the requirements of four different regulatory aircraft classes.
The Pipistrel Panthera is a lightweight, all-composite, highly efficient four-seat aircraft under development by Pipistrel of Slovenia.
The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is a Slovenian two-seat, single-engine light-sport aircraft intended specifically for flight training, designed and produced by Pipistrel in Gorizia, Italy.
The Aerospool WT9 Dynamic is a Slovak ultralight and light-sport aircraft, designed and produced by Aerospool of Prievidza. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
The Zlin Savage is a series of light sport aircraft similar in construction to the Piper Cub.
The Tecnam Astore is an Italian, low wing, two-seater, light-sport aircraft, under development by Tecnam of Naples. It was first flown in early June, 2013, and introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in 2013. It is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Pipistrel Twister is a Slovenian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. It was distributed in Europe by Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim and sometimes called the Flight Team Twister. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
The Pipistrel WATTsUP is an electric aircraft proof-of-concept trainer design that was built in Slovenia by Pipistrel.
The ScaleWings SW51 Mustang, formerly marketed as the FK-Lightplanes FK51 Mustang, is an Austrian ultralight, light-sport aircraft and homebuilt aircraft that was designed by ScaleWings of Strasswalchen, Austria and was initially produced by FK-Lightplanes of Krosno, Poland, who introduced it publicly at the AERO Friedrichshafen show in 2013. After FK-Lightplanes ceased production, the design was built by ScaleWings.
The OneAircraft One is a Slovenian light-sport aircraft (LSA) and certified light aircraft designed by Iztok Šalamon and produced by OneAircraft of Celje. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
The Pipistrel Velis Electro is a Slovenian light aircraft, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. The aircraft was EASA CS-LSA fully electric type certified in June 2020 and it is intended primarily for the training aircraft role, particularly multiple successive take-off and landings at the airfield. The design is the first type certified electric aircraft and is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.