Textron announces Pipistrel Voyager
On July 20, Textron announced the Pipistrel Voyager, a two-seat training aircraft designed for the new light-sport category aircraft certification rules, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin.
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Lannie O’Bannion described the Voyager as the “next generation of training aircraft.”
“This MOSAIC aircraft is equipped with all-new Garmin Axis avionics, expanding capability for pilots and flight schools,” he said.
O’Bannion explained that the Voyager will be capable of instrument training and spin certification, and includes a single-lever throttle control and a three-axis autopilot system. The Voyager will have a planned useful load of 552 pounds and a max takeoff weight of 1,389 pounds. Textron notes that these numbers are preliminary and subject to change.
“Designed for high frequency training with a focus on efficiency and utilization, the Voyager enables flight schools to complement the Cessna Skyhawk,” he said.
The launch customer will be Epic Flight Academy, an FAR Part 141 school based in Florida, with 12 locations around the United States. Founder and CEO Danny Perna was visibly emotional as he announced that his flight school would be among the first to put the aircraft to work.
“It’s an honor for us to add the Voyager to complement this fleet,” he said. Perna started the flight school with his wife and a Cessna 152 in 1999, and it now is one of the largest Part 141 schools in the nation.
“I’m proud to be part of Textron Aviation’s vision and to be [its] launch customer.”
Textron announced that the price for the Voyager would be 240,000 euros (about $274,000), and the company plans to bring the aircraft to market in 2027.
