The Pipistrel WATTsUP is an electric aircraft proof-of-concept trainer design that was built in Slovenia by Pipistrel .
14-719: The aircraft is based upon the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer , which was itself related to the Pipistrel Sinus and Virus designs. The WATTsUP was first publicly shown at the Salon de Blois airshow, in France on 30 August 2014. The proof of concept resulted in the Pipistrel Alpha Electro production aircraft. The WATTsUP is a high-wing, cantilever monoplane of pod-and-boom configuration with
28-513: A Cessna 152 has between 350 and 480 lb (160–220 kg) useful load. 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. The Electro is now certified in the USA. In 2015 Pipistrel intended to fly
42-416: A T-tail . The cabin has two seats in side-by-side configuration . The WATTsUP is powered by an 85 kW (114.0 hp) electric motor developed by Siemens AG , that weighs just 14 kg (31 lb). The initial climb rate is over 5.1 m/s (1,000 ft/min). The manufacturer claims the electric motor produces more power than a Rotax 912 and can be fully charged in about one hour. The airplane
56-476: 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. The aircraft features a cantilever high wing , a two-seats in side-by-side configuration , tricycle landing gear , and
70-571: A single 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 UL engine in tractor configuration . 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. The landing gear
84-544: Is a Slovenian two-seat, single-engine light-sport aircraft intended specifically for flight training , designed and produced by Pipistrel in Gorizia , Italy . The Alpha was announced at the end of 2011 and production started in 2012. 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
98-421: Is a high-wing, cantilever monoplane of pod-and-boom configuration with a T-tail . The cabin has two seats in side-by-side configuration . The WATTsUP is powered by an 85 kW (114.0 hp) electric motor developed by Siemens AG , that weighs just 14 kg (31 lb). The initial climb rate is over 5.1 m/s (1,000 ft/min). The manufacturer claims the electric motor produces more power than
112-495: Is an electric aircraft proof-of-concept trainer design that was built in Slovenia by Pipistrel . The aircraft is based upon the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer , which was itself related to the Pipistrel Sinus and Virus designs. The WATTsUP was first publicly shown at the Salon de Blois airshow, in France on 30 August 2014. The proof of concept resulted in the Pipistrel Alpha Electro production aircraft. The WATTsUP
126-436: Is expected to be capable of flying for about one hour with a 30-minute reserve and it is most efficient in the traffic pattern where as much as 13 percent of the energy is recuperated during each approach. The initial base price is intended to be less than 100,000 Euros . Data from AVweb and Manufacturer General characteristics Performance Pipistrel Alpha Trainer The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer
140-424: Is included as standard equipment. 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. The 50 L (13 US gal) fuel tank allows an endurance of more than 4 hours. Its initial price of US$ 85,000 was intended to address moves by Pipistrel's competition in raising prices on their aircraft. In particular,
154-509: 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. 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; much less than the gasoline engine. It has a useful load of 380 pounds (170 kg), whereas
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#1732783668768168-519: 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. Pipistrel introduced an electric version called the Alpha Electro in 2015 at a price of 69,000 euros, with technology from
182-693: The Electro from France to England two days before the Airbus E-Fan , but was prevented by Siemens. Four Electro aircraft will be used to provide flight training in Fresno, California starting in late 2017 as part of the Sustainable Aviation Project . Data from AVweb and Pipistrel General characteristics Performance Avionics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Pipistrel WATTsUP The Pipistrel WATTsUP
196-468: 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 were redesigned to have 25 degrees of flap travel for easy short-field landings. A full airframe emergency ballistic parachute
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