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 .
8-633: Introduced in 1999 and 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. The Virus 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. The aircraft
16-693: 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. 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
24-553: A haptic stall warning system, among other equipment. The Pipistrel Virus flew for the first time on August 10, 1999. Production began on January 20, 2000. The development of the short wing version started in 2007. The Virus SW production started in 2008. The Virus won the NASA 2007 Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) Challenge and the 2008 General Aviation Technology (GAT) Challenge. On 8 January 2012, Slovenian pilot Matevž Lenarčič launched an around-the-world flight attempt from Slovenia in
32-512: 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. He completed the flight on 19 April 2012, returning to Slovenia and claiming to be
40-449: 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. The Virus SW 121 and Explorer (SW 121A) line of aircraft are rated for intentional spins. Aviation journalist Paul Bertorelli has criticized the aircraft's design for lack of cabin occupant crashworthiness . However,
48-605: The Garud after a bird in Hindu mythology , would be used for training of Flight Safety and Air Wing Cadets. By September 2019, all 194 aircraft had been delivered. The different versions of the Virus are flown by private individuals and flight schools worldwide. Data from Manufacturer General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Pipistrel Sinus Too Many Requests If you report this error to
56-557: The first person to complete such a flight without a copilot. He flew 100,000 km (62,000 miles) during the journey. On 12 October 2015, Pipistrel won an international tender issued by the Indian Ministry of Defence , to supply 194 light trainers to the National Cadet Corps (110 aircraft), Indian Air Force (72 aircraft), and Indian Navy (12 aircraft). The two-seat Pipistrel Virus SW 80 aircraft, known as
64-508: 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. By February 2014, Pipistrel had produced more than 600 Sinus/Virus aircraft. Production reached 1000 aircraft by March 2019. In April 2016, the Virus SW 121 received an EASA Full Type Certificate. The SW 121 is powered by
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