Pipistrel Twister

The Pipistrel Twister is a Slovenian ultralight trike, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. It was distributed in Europe by Flight Team UG & Company AG of Ippesheim and sometimes called the Flight Team Twister. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

Twister
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
Status Production completed (2018)
Developed from Flight Team Spider

By October 2018 it was listed as a "legacy" product and production had ended.[2]

Design and development

The Twister is a development of the Pipistrel Spider. It incorporates a bent main pylon, which allows more seating room for the rear seat occupant, more streamlined main landing gear legs and a Rotax 912 engine. The Twister was designed for competition use, but has been successful in the recreational market as well.[1]

The Twister was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10 m (32.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a four-cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL engine.[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 198 kg (437 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 252 kg (556 lb). With full fuel of 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 222 kg (489 lb).[1]

Specifications (Twister 912)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 15 m2 (160 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 198 kg (437 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912UL four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 110 km/h (68 mph, 59 kn)
  • Stall speed: 60 km/h (37 mph, 32 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 9 m/s (1,800 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 30.0 kg/m2 (6.1 lb/sq ft)

See also

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 212. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. "Pipistrel Aircraft Twister - Pipistrel". www.pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
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