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It is the most beautiful thing i see in aviation for long time, i hop the flying quality whas also as good, and the production airplane match the numbers ! if yes : i'll buy it !
That is absolutely the most beautiful aircraft that I have seen in a very long time. The thing looks like it's screaming speed just sitting there. If it goes on sale in the U.S., those guys have a customer in me.
With suicide doors like that, the FAA should drop the hammer on this — otherwise — beautiful aircraft. Basic aircraft safety says that if something fails on a plane, the plane should not automatically disintegrate in mid-air. Like the Socata Trinidad, Cessna Columbia, and other aircraft with doors like this, if one comes open in flight YOU ARE, MOST LIKELY, TOAST. Why would you want that? The FAA is remiss in it's duty if it allows airplanes with this feature to be certified.
I prefer a side yoke ( more room ), a fixed gear ( safer ), a single movement power Lever ( simple).
I disagree with dhedman's comments on gull-wing doors. As an owner of a Trinidad TB-20, I've had one of my doors open in flight. Apart from loosing all my charts and coping with a lot of noise I made an uneventful landing from a cruise altitiude of 8000ft.
Like others comments this plane has the looks and promises performance all at a realistic price. Once certified, there will be a TB-20 being traded in here in Australia for sure!
During Lancair Columbia Certification we had the gull wing door, if it came open in flight it would still fly. We also had to prove the ability of emergency egress when the plane is flipped over on its top and we solved that issue so I believe the Pipistrel folks will be able to figure it out if they have not already. This is a great looking airplane and looks like it has everything it needs to be successful. Oh, and the comment on retract being safer, just remember the "u" in "GUMP". :-) This is one of the reasons for their efficiency.
Amazing looking plane. And I particularly like the doors for the rear passengers. That's nice.
Mike, I'm curious, what did you do on the door issue to get certification? Is there a charge that blows the door off so you can get out if the plane ends up on its back?
dhedeman
For the most part, the air coming off the prop will keep the doors closed - have you ever started a Cirrus with the doors open? It virtually makes them slam down on you if you're not careful.
Dear dhedeman and others,
To answer your doubts about the door:
The entire Panthera aircraft is designed according to the FAR-23 Utility stadards, including the door, of course. It will also be certified with this type of doors - not just by the FAA but also by the EASA. The door can't just come undone mid-flight, it is designed with a multi-point fixation mechanism and safety lock, as required by certification standards.
In the same way as you can be afraid of the door coming undone and breaking off mid-flight, you can be afraid of losing a wing, the prop, the undercarriage or anything else, really. This is why aviation standards exist - to prevent this, to make the aircraft safe and to design it in such a way that this won't happen! It will pass all the ground and air safety tests, be sure of that.
In the case of a crash-landing where an aircraft tumbles and lands on its back, the T-tail will hold it up enough that at least the rear door can always be opened. In the case that this is not possible (rough terrain, tail break-off etc), the back seats are easily removable and the cargo door is large enough to be used as an emergency exit for the passengers to leave the cabin safely and easily.
If you have any more questions, you're welcome to mail us at info@pipistrel.si
Thank you and kind regards,
a Pipistrel employee.
It seems to me that every design decision for the Panthera was the right one, at least for me. My only concern is that the demand is already far beyond production capacity. I hope an angel comes in to finance expansion.
I lust after this plane.
Now if we can just manage to find a way to get the suggested retail down to about 10% of what it currently is, we would really have something. Where are the modern day Henry Fords?
Nothing to add here; I agree with most of the comments, and it IS one of the most beautiful airplanes I've ever seen.... I wish the company much success.
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