The Alpha was announced at the end of 2011 and production started in 2012.[3] Based on the design of the Pipistrel Virus, it is intended to be a low-cost solution for LSA flight training both in the acquisition and operating costs, while still including a full airframe emergency recovery parachute system as standard equipment.
The electric version of the Alpha Trainer was announced in 2015, and as of January 2020, it remained the only commercially available electric airplane in the world, with the exception of electric motorgliders.[4]
The aircraft features a cantilever high-wing, a two-seats in side-by-side configuration, tricycle landing gear, and a single 800NaN0 Rotax 912 UL engine in tractor configuration. It was designed to comply with the US light-sport aircraft rules.
The aerodynamic design is based on the Pipistrel Virus but structurally redesigned to simplify the manufacture and maintenance. The aircraft is made from single-skin laminate composite, instead of the honeycomb layup found in the Virus. The landing gear was reinforced for training use, and the main wheels' differential brakes replaced with a central brake lever between the seats. The cockpit is equipped with traditional and cheaper round-dial style flight instruments and a GPS, rather than a full glass cockpit. Air brakes are optional to offer simpler controls, and the flaperons were redesigned to have 25 degrees of flap travel for easy short-field landings.
A full airframe emergency ballistic parachute is included as standard equipment.
The fuel consumption is projected to be per hour when used in the training role and conducting touch-and-go circuits. The fuel tank allows an endurance of more than 4 hours.
Its initial price of US$85,000 was intended to address moves by Pipistrel's competition in raising prices on their aircraft. In particular, the Alpha's price was initially set well below the then-current US$149,000 price announced for the comparable Cessna 162. As of April 2020, the base price ranged between €65,000 (US$70,100) and €86,800 (US$93,600), depending on the country-specific regulatory requirements.[5]
Pipistrel introduced an electric version called the Alpha Electro in 2015 at a price of 69,000 euros,[3] with technology from the Pipistrel WATTsUP proof of concept design, for short training. It has energy for one flight hour plus reserves, and can recharge in 45 minutes or have its batteries replaced in 5 minutes.[6] Instead of 78lb of fuel, it has 277lb of LiPo cells, however the water cooled electric motor weighs 11 kg;[7] much less than the gasoline engine. It has a useful load of 380lb, whereas a Cessna 152 has between 350lb480lb useful load.[8] [9]
After 38 minutes of flying various manoeuvres, battery charge may be 25%. From the inside, the Electro is very similar to the gasoline-powered version, but from the outside, the Electro is much quieter. Electricity costs are about 1/10 of gasoline.[7]
The Electro is now certified in the USA.[10] In 2015 Pipistrel intended to fly the Electro from France to England two days before the Airbus E-Fan, but was prevented by Siemens.[11] Four Electro aircraft will be used to provide flight training in Fresno, California starting in late 2017 as part of the Sustainable Aviation Project.[12]