The Pipistrel Virus is a two-seat, single engine light aircraft, manufactured by Pipistrel in Slovenia and Italy, and sold as an ultralight, homebuilt kit, or light-sport aircraft. Introduced in 1999, based on the design of the Pipistrel Sinus, the Virus has been produced in a number of variants with different engines, wingspans, and undercarriage configurations. It can be equipped with a full airframe emergency recovery parachute system.
Design and development
It is a high-wing, cantilever monoplane of pod-and-boom configuration with a T-tail and air brakes. The cabin has two seats side-by-side. Its fixed undercarriage can be provided in either tricycle or tailwheel configuration. It is available in long wing version, powered by an Rotax 912 engine, or in short wing "SW" version, equipped with several options of Rotax 912 and 914 engines. The aviation journalist Paul Bertorelli has criticized the aircraft's design for lack of cabin occupant crashworthiness. However, the manufacturer points out that this kind of issue is typical of aircraft in the LSA category. The design has no history of head trauma during the accidents that have occurred. By February 2014 Pipistrel had produced more than 600 Sinus/Virus aircraft. Production had reached 1000 aircraft by March 2019. In April 2016 the Virus SW 121 received an EASA Full Type Certificate. The SW 121 is powered by a Rotax 912 S3 and is designed to meet EASA requirements for a Light Sports Aeroplane. It is the first EASA type-certified aircraft in CS-LSA category for Night VFR operations, Intentional spins and glider-towing. It features an autopilot, dual redundant ADAHRS units and airbrakes.
Operational history
The Pipistrel Virus flew for the first time on August 10, 1999. Production began on January 20, 2000. The development of the short wing version started in 2007. The Virus SW production started in 2008. The Virus won the NASA 2007 Personal Air Vehicle Challenge and the 2008 General Aviation Technology Challenge. On 8 January 2012, Slovenian pilot Matevž Lenarčič launched an around-the-world flight attempt from Slovenia in a turbocharged Virus SW914, sponsored as the GreenLight World Flight. As part of his flight he flew past Mount Everest at an altitude of, some above the peak's height; this portion of the journey was not authorized, as Nepal had cancelled his permit to make the flight right before he took off. He completed the flight on 19 April 2012, returning to Slovenia claiming to be the first person to complete such a flight without a copilot and having flown during the journey. On 12 October 2015 Pipistrel won an international tender, issued by the Indian Ministry of Defence, to supply 194 light trainers to the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and National Cadet Corps. The two-seat Pipistrel Virus SW 80 aircraft, known as the Garud after a bird in Hindu mythology, will be used for training of Flight Safety and Air Wing Cadets and the entire quantity of 194 aircraft must be delivered 30 months from the day of the first delivery. The contract includes an option for an additional 100 aircraft within the third year. By September 2019, all 194 aircraft had been delivered.
