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This was the third NASA top prize for Pipistrel after winning in 2007 and 2008 with their Virus SW aircraft, the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its category. This year's award went to the company's Taurus G4, a four-seat electric-powered aircraft. It made aviation history when it became the first practical and economically viable, emission-free aircraft. In petrol terms, it consumed only 7.5 litres of fuel over a 320-kilometre course at a speed of over 170 kph. In financial terms, it means that the fuel to transport four people 700 kilometres far would cost a mere 20 Euros.
Despite being a leading producer of efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft, Pipistrel still impressed the organisers, judges and people from the aviation industry. The company says the Taurus G4 has is then times more efficient than conventional aircraft, which makes it a highly competitive even with automotive industry. With a peak take-off noise of 71.1 decibels this aeroplane could well herald an age of aircraft quiet enough to land very near dwellings and businesses.

Air over automotive

He believes that light-aircraft industry now has an edge over the automotive industry: "There is no such car despite huge development resources and no weight limits," he says. "Joe Parrish, NASA technical director, said that our small team was able to set standards which all of us should be thankful for. If an organisation such as NASA acknowledges that we are setting standards and pushing the limits of the aviation industry, this is greatest possible honour."
The Taurus G4 is a prototype that will never fly commercially. But the Panthera, which uses Taurus G4's propulsion system, will go on the market and is expected to cost in the region of half a million Euros. "Such was enthusiasm for the Panthera, that we had had several dozen orders even before the first aircraft took off," says Boscarol. Panthera will be the first commercially available four-seat electric aircraft in the world.

Cost and weight

Boscarol believes that costs and weight - currently the biggest challenges - will come down when serial production takes over. "It is the same as with mobile phones: the models we use today would have cost millions and probably weighed a few hundred kilos 20 years ago. Regarding aircraft, I expect rapid development. Things that were science fiction only three years ago are becoming a reality. Our Taurus Electro [the first two-seat electric aircraft in the world], for example, costs the same with electric or petrol engine."
The winning aircraft will stay in the USA, at a NASA museum, "in the company of aircraft that marked aviation milestones." Some believe that years from now, these first Green Flight Challenge team members will be recognised as the pioneers of the Age of Electric Flight.
Boscarol has proved more than once that he is not afraid of challenges and he had no second thoughts about bidding for the supply of 194 light aircraft to the Indian armed forces. "Regarding technical solutions, we are not afraid of competition. We believe that we have the best product and if quality - instead of lobbying and price - prevails, we can become an aircraft supplier to the fourth strongest army in the world."

 

President's Recognition
 

Pipistrel's achievements have also been recognised by the president of the Republic of Slovenia. Danilo Türk has awarded the highest Slovene civil award - The Golden Order for Services - to Pipistrel for "exceptional services at the development of environmentally-friendly technology and establishing a victorious innovative philosophy which helped to place Slovenia among the global technologic superpowers."