Pipistrel Virus SW Performance Changes

[skippydiesel]

Am I the only person who thinks the changes to the Virus SW performance figures (STALL/high speed Cruise) since Pipistrel was bought out by Textron are a tad strange?

 

It would seem that the change of ownership has increased Stall from 30 Knots to 43 Knots and  high speed Cruise from 135 Knots to 147 Knots.

 

Under the previous ownership, this aircraft won several CAFE foundation competitions ie its performance was established by an independent third party.😈

[FlyBoy1960]

It depends on the model I am guessing. A lot of people get confused about the Virus and the Virus SW, which are completely different aircraft. There are also changes based on the equipment levels and the empty weight of the airframe (they really excel if flown light).

 

Peter Bugg is the local expert on the Virus SW and he flight plans at 150 kn at 8000 feet but I can't remember if it was 14 or 15 L per hour but it was something incredibly low. He has the fuel injected engine, in fact the 1st one sold by Rotax EVER.  Little bit of history there.

[BurnieM]

We flight plan at 16 litres/hour in a Evektor Harmony with a Rotax 912is but cruise is only 110kt.

 

[skippydiesel]

4 hours ago, BurnieM said:

We flight plan at 16 litres/hour in a Evektor Harmony with a Rotax 912is but cruise is only 110kt.

 

Wow! That's one draggy aircraft 😈

[BurnieM]

46 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

Wow! That's one draggy aircraft 😈

Yeah, nah. Its pretty typical for an LSA.

 

[Thruster88]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

Wow! That's one draggy aircraft 😈

If he used the Skippy method for calculating fuel consumption it would have been only 13lph for 110knots, almost unbelievable. Skippy and I are friends for those reading at home.

[Blueadventures]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Wow! That's one draggy aircraft 😈

Not draggy, just a well designed roomy, comfortable aircraft with nice width for two up, head height and plenty of room for luggage.  Just what I like in aircraft design.

[Moneybox]

The Harmony is exactly the same airframe as my Sportstar, slow compared to Skippy's but a low stall, take-off and landing distance as well. I have an inflight adjustable propeller so I'm hoping that'll give it a little more top end.