PIPISTREL VIRUS

TYPE: Side-by-side ultralight.

PROGRAMME: Variant of Pipistrel Sinus; development began 1997; first flown (S5-PBG) 1999; series production from 2000. 912 certified in Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand and Slovenia. Company demonstration team created in 2003 with three Virus 912s (S5-PCA, 'PBR and 'PCP).

CURRENT VERSIONS: Virus 582: Power plant as for Sinus 582. Certified in Australia, New Zealand and Slovenia. No recent sales known.
Virus 912: Certified version; as described. Customers in South Africa, Thailand, US and elsewhere.

COSTS: Virus 912 EUR60,700 ready to fly; 51 per cent kit EUR51,900, QBK EUR56,500 (2005).

DESIGN FEATURES: Tricycle landing gear and shorter span standard; tailwheel version also certified in France. Otherwise generally as Sinus.

FLYING CONTROLS: As Sinus.

LANDING GEAR: Tricycle type; fixed. Fuselage-mounted spring cantilever mainwheel legs with wheel fairings; steerable nosewheel.

POWER PLANT: One Rotax 912 UL flat-four (59.6 kW; 79.9 hp) and Pipistrel Vario in-flight-adjustable, featherable two-blade carbon fibre propeller. Fuel capacity as Sinus.

Data for Virus 912.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 12.36 m (40 ft 6½ in)
  • Length overall: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
  • Height overall: 2.00 m (6 ft 6¾ in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 11.00 m² (118.4 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Weight empty: 285 kg (628 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: 450 kg (992 lb) (472.5 kg (1,041 lb) in France if fitted with ballistic parachute)

PERFORMANCE, POWERED (at 450 kg MTOW):

  • Never-exceed speed (VNE): 134 kt (249 km/h; 154 mph)
  • Max level speed, fixed prop: 130 kt (240 km/h; 149 mph)
  • Cruising speed, fixed prop: 121 kt (225 km/h; 140 mph)
  • Stalling speed: flaps up: 39 kt (72 km/h; 45 mph)
    • flaps down: 35 kt (64 km/h; 40 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L: 372 m (1,220 ft)/min
  • Service ceiling: 8,100 m (26,575 ft)
  • T-O run: 90 m (295 ft)
  • Range: 691 n miles (1,280 km; 795 miles)
  • g limits: +4/-2

PERFORMANCE, UNPOWERED:

  • Best glide ratio at 59 kt (110 km/h; 68 mph): 24
  • Min rate of sink at 52 kt (96 km/h; 60 mph): 1,80 m (5.91 ft)/s