3 March 2014
It has been reported that Pipistrel’s Panthera four-seater aircraft development programme has suffered a considerable delay.
Pipistrel CEO Ivo Boscarol, has explained that the holdup is due to Lycoming’s decision not to certify its four-cylinder IO-390 engine for auto fuel use, a key feature for Pipistrel in creating the Panthera.
The aircraft was originally designed for the IO-390, so now Pipistrel had to redesign. The company has replaced the IO-390 four-cylinder engine with the Lycoming IO-540-V six-cylinder, forced Pipistrel into a redesign phase to allow the Panthera to accommodate the heavier and larger IO-540.
According to Pipistrel, the first aircraft with the new engine will be ready for testing this year, though the company offered no further details.
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