Pipistrel Alpha Trainer

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.[2][3]

Alpha Trainer
Pipistrel Alpha in flight
Role Light-sport aircraft
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
First flight 2012
Status In production
Produced May 2012 – present
Number built 500+[1]
Developed from Pipistrel Virus

The Alpha was announced at the end of 2011 and production started in 2012.[4] Based on the design of the Pipistrel Virus, it is intended to be a low-cost solution for LSA flight training both in the acquisition and operating costs, while still including a full airframe emergency recovery parachute system as standard equipment.

The electric version of the Alpha Trainer was announced in 2015, and as of January 2020, it remained the only commercially available electric airplane in the world, with the exception of electric motorgliders.[5]

Design and development
The Rotax-powered Alpha Trainer

The aircraft features a cantilever high-wing, a two-seats in side-by-side configuration, tricycle landing gear and a single 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 UL engine in tractor configuration.[2] It was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules.

The aerodynamic design is based on the Pipistrel Virus but structurally redesigned to simplify the manufacture and maintenance. The aircraft is made from single-skin laminate composite, instead of the honeycomb layup found in the Virus.[5] The landing gear was reinforced for training use, and the main wheels' differential brakes replaced with a central brake lever between the seats. The cockpit is equipped with traditional and cheaper round-dial style flight instruments and a GPS, rather than a full glass cockpit. Air brakes are optional to offer simpler controls and the flaperons redesigned to have 25 degrees of flap travel for easy short-field landings.[3]

A full airframe emergency ballistic parachute is included as standard equipment.[3]

The fuel consumption is projected to be 9.5 L (2.5 US gal) per hour when used in the training role and conducting touch-and-go circuits.[2][3] The 50 L (13 US gal) fuel tank allows an endurance of more than 4 hours.

Its initial price of US$85,000[3] was intended to address moves by Pipistrel's competition in raising prices on their aircraft. In particular, the Alpha's price was initially set well below the then-current US$149,000 price announced for the comparable Cessna 162. As of April 2020, the base price ranged between €65,000 (US$70,100) and €86,800 (US$93,600), depending on the country-specific regulatory requirements.[6]

Variants

Alpha Electro
Alpha Electro
External video
video icon Video: Pipistrel Alpha Electro Aero 2015
video icon Video: Flying Pipistrel's Electric Airplane

Pipistrel introduced an electric version called the Alpha Electro in 2015 at a price of 69,000 euros,[4] with technology from the Pipistrel WATTsUP proof of concept design, for short training. It has energy for one flight hour plus reserves, and can recharge in 45 minutes or have its batteries replaced in 5 minutes.[7] Instead of 78 pounds (35 kg) of fuel, it has 277 pounds (126 kg) of LiPo cells, however the water cooled electric motor weighs 11 kg;[8] much less than the gasoline engine. It has a useful load of 380 pounds (170 kg), whereas a Cessna 152 has between 350 and 480 lb (160–220 kg) useful load.[9][10]

After 38 minutes of flying various manoeuvres, battery charge may be 25%. From the inside, the Electro is very similar to the gasoline-powered version, but from the outside, the Electro is much quieter. Electricity costs are about 1/10 of gasoline.[8]

The Electro is now certified in the USA.[11] In 2015 Pipistrel intended to fly the Electro from France to England two days before the Airbus E-Fan, but was prevented by Siemens.[12] Four Electro aircraft will be used to provide flight training in Fresno, California starting in late 2017 as part of the Sustainable Aviation Project.[13]

Operators
  • WorldWide Wings – 15 on order for use in the school's locations in California and Florida, United States.[14]

Specifications (Alpha Trainer)

Data from AVweb and Pipistrel[2][3][15][16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 9.51 m2 (102.4 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 279 kg (615 lb)
  • Gross weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 50 litres (11 imp gal; 13 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 UL four cylinder, horizontally opposed, four stroke aircraft engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Pipistrel custom wood and composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph, 108 kn)
  • Stall speed: 80 km/h (49 mph, 43 kn) without flaps
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph, 135 kn)
  • Range: 600 km (373 mi, 324 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
  • g limits: +4, -2
  • Rate of climb: 6.2 m/s (1,220 ft/min)

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. "Pipistrel Alpha Trainer Description". Pipistrel Aircraft. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. Grady, Mary (30 November 2011). "Pipistrel Promises $83K LSA Trainer". AVweb. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. Grady, Mary (14 May 2012). "Pipistrel Alpha LSA Trainer Ready To Fly For $85K". AVweb. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16, page 73. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  5. Bertorelli, Paul (8 January 2020). "Alpha Electro: One Fish, Small Pond". AvWeb. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "ALPHA Trainer - Price List". Pipistrel Configurator. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  7. Grady, Mary (14 April 2015). "Pipistrel Introduces Alpha Electro". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. Bertorelli, Paul (17 June 2015). "An Electric Airplane Virgin No More". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  9. Bertorelli, Paul (15 March 2015). "Will 2015 See Deliverable Electric Airplanes?". avweb.com. Aviation Publishing Group. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  10. Grady, Mary (14 April 2015). "Pipistrel Alpha Electro Aero 2015". AVweb. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  11. Lambert, Fred (27 April 2018). "First all-electric trainer plane gets airworthiness certification from the FAA in the US". Electrek. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  12. Niles, Russ (7 July 2015). "Pipistrel Cancels Channel Flight After Siemens Pulls Support". AVweb. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  13. "Electric Aviation Made Practical". 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  14. Grady, Mary (10 April 2018). "Pipistrel Lands Biggest U.S. Order". AVweb. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  15. Pipistrel (2011). "Pipistrel introduces a fully equipped training aircraft for under $85,000 US". Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  16. "Alpha Trainer Technical Data". pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
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