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Did Textron Get a Good Deal When It Bought Pipistrel?

For Textron, the move is all about electric aircraft technology, but what did the company really buy?

Pipstrel's Alpha Electro is a 2-seat electric trainer geared for flight schools. [Courtesy: Pipistrel]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Textron acquired electric aircraft pioneer Pipistrel for $242 million, primarily to gain access to its advanced electric aviation technology and expertise, fast-tracking Textron's entry into the electric aircraft market.
  • Pipistrel is a world leader in electric aircraft development, having produced the Velis Electro (Europe's only type-certified electric aircraft) and various innovative designs.
  • Despite Pipistrel's leadership, current electric aircraft technology, exemplified by the Velis Electro, faces significant endurance limitations, offering only about 20-24 minutes of practical flight time in the U.S. due to FAA reserve requirements.
  • The substantial cost of this acquisition for technology with present limitations indicates that widespread, long-endurance electric general aviation aircraft are still several years and significant investment away.
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Every time I see a Tesla I wonder why aircraft manufacturers don’t seem to be putting more effort into electrifying GA. With Teslas, I frequently hear about factory-spec, four-door family sedans competitively racing against (and even beating) tricked-out, purpose-built muscle cars.

Sure, Harbour Air is flying an electric de Havilland Beaver, but that’s just one airplane. I want GA aircraft powerplants that eliminate the performance penalty we suffer at high density altitudes without the added cost and maintenance of turbochargers. I also want to completely abandon piston engines and their hundreds of moving parts in favor of much simpler electric powerplants.

Jason Depew

Jason Depew flies as a captain for a major U.S. airline. He is also an Air Force reservist and has flown more than 300 combat missions over Afghanistan and other garden spots. Based in Tampa, Florida, he instructs in the Icon A5 and anything else he can get his hands on. His writing is focused on personal finance for pilots with the goal to help all types of aviators enjoy great careers, sometimes in spite of themselves. You can send Jason questions at editorial@flying.media.

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