Pipistrel's Business Plan Isn't Quite The Bunny Ranch ... But Their Objective Is The Same

By Tom Woodward

Can a sleek, sexy airplane with good performance numbers overcome a price fit for a Hollywood star? The preorders would suggest so ... but don't look for it at Oshkosh. The only flying example of Pipistrel's Panthera is being used for testing.

Pipistrel Made the maiden flight of the Pipistrel Panthera on April 4, 2013, lasting 54 minutes. The saying goes, "Form follows Function" and in the case of the Panthera it's neck and neck. This is Pipistrel's first venture out of the ultralight/LSA arena and into General Aviation and the Panthera is bound to make a big splash, maybe even a tsunami if the price point doesn't cause shockwaves. Don't look for it at Oshkosh

Originally planned to be powered by the Lycoming IO-390, a switch to the IO-540-V was necessary when Lycoming decided that the 390 would not be certified for mogas, a design requirement for the Panthera. The IO-540 has already been certified for mogas and is more power than the Panthera needs so range and fuel burn will be calculated on operating on less than the 260hp that the 540  can deliver. This revelation has delayed the delivery of the first factory-assist, experimental, quick-build kits to the end of 2014. The entire production for the experimental line is sold out until June 2016 and for the certified line, July, 2017, suggesting to me that people are enamored with the look of the airplane as well as the proposed specifications. What can you expect in the way of performance?

Pipistrel says the Panthera will achieve, through careful aerodynamic shaping a speed of 200 knots while carrying four people and full fuel, 1000 nm, while burning 10 gph. Whether these number will be achievable with the Lycoming IO-540 are yet to be seen. Both a hybrid and an electric model will be offered, but with the latter the cost point might only appeal to Ed Begely Jr. of Al Gore, believers of Global warming and sitting on large piles of cash.

Instrument choices seem to lean to either the Dynon Skyview or the Garmin G3X and will carry whatever autopilot support those systems. Prices for the Experimental start in the neighborhood of $530,000 and go to $581,000 depending on avionics and engine choice. The certified models start at $636,00 and can climb to $719,00 for the Hybrid or $760,000 for the electric, which currently has a limited range. Of course these prices are based on todays Euro rate and I wouldn't expect them to decrease.

So break out your wallet. This sexy mistress is going to cost you some bling.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.pipistrel.si/plane/panthera/overview