10 May 2016
Pipistrel Aircraft is coming to the UK. Fly About Aviation is the new UK agent for the Slovenian manufacturer, formed by flight instructor and examiner Deepak Mahajan and Sergey Grachev, a pilot and lawyer.
Fly About Aviation has recently acquired a strip at Shipmeadow Farm, 2.5 miles west of Beccles in Suffolk, as the home base for Pipistrel aircraft in UK. The company is holding a fly-in and party on 18-19 June to celebrate the opening.
Deepak Mahajan, who is also boss of London Airsports at Damyns Hall, Essex, told FLYER, “At present we offer the Pipistrel Virus SW 121 with EASA Type Certificate as a 600kg mtow light aircraft, complete and ready to fly. Delivery time is about four months and price is approximately 160K euro.”
Fly About Aviation will also offer the Virus SW as a kit, with the first example flying in the UK in June. The company is already importing the Pipistrel Apis single-seat self-launching motor glider, which is classed as an SSDR, priced at approximately 60K euro.
The Pipistrel Alpha microlight, already approved across the rest of Europe, Australia, India, Canada and the USA, is going through the CAA’s own, separate BCAR-S regs for microlights and will be available later this year. The electric version of the Alpha will follow once “alternate means of propulsion” regs are adopted.
Pipistrel boss Ivo Boscarol, left, with EASA chief Patrick Ky at AERO Friedrichshafen where the Virus SW received its full EASA type certificate.
First certification
The Virus SW 121 is the first Pipistrel aircraft to be certified by EASA. Pipistrel boss Ivo Boscarol received the type certificate from EASA boss Patrick Ky at AERO Friedrichshafen in April. Boscarol said, “This is an important testament to our efforts and a huge step towards Pipistrel’s vision to become a renowned designer and producer of certified aircraft.”
The Virus SW 121 has a full EASA type certificate meaning it can be used for commercial operations as well as flight training and private flying.
Cockpit of Pipistrel’s Virus SW with Garmin avionics – now available in the UK.
It has a dual screen Garmin glass cockpit including two-axis digital autopilot, air brakes for enhanced descent and is certified for towing with the optional glider-towing equipment. It also has a certified Rotax 912 ULS engine and certified constant-speed propeller.
