Sinus 
Virus 
Virus SW 
Taurus Electro 
Taurus 
Apis/Bee 
Panthera 
Spider 
Twister 
LN 
Bam 
Vario 
Pipistrel has been established in 1987. It started as a small backyard producer of powered hang-gliders, but in the 24 years of operation it has grown into an influential, internationally renown company whose products set the new aviation standards on a world scale.
At the moment, Pipistrel is housed in a 5000m2 facility adjacent to the airport in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and employs 74 people.
In the 22 years of existence we produced over 300 aircraft of the Sinus-Virus family and over 50 aircraft of the Taurus-Apis family. Together with the powered hang-gliders and other projects, this sums up to close to 1000 aircraft.
We continue with the trend of intense investments into research, high-technology equipment and development. In 2008, we invested 1,2 M EUR into research & development, which represented one quarter of the entire 2008 yearly turnover. We expect to do the same again in 2009.
Information for media:
We provide some free photographic and text material available for the media.
To access the restricred area, please send an e-mail to our public relations service and request the media username and password.
Files that you will find in the restricted area once you are given a password:
-a selection of high-resolution photographs of our Aircraft, banners and logotypes
(under the "High-Res Photo Gallery" section)
-a short introduction of Pipistrel, history and products (in English)
-Kratka predstavitev podjetja Pipistrel (in Slovene language - v slovenščini) - in the "Presentations" section
-Full introduction of Pipistrel, including history, products, competitions and awards, system and organisation, ECOlution campaign and future projects.
(in the "Presentations" section)
Many other useful information for media can be found around the website. Check:
-OUR REFERENCES
-ECOlution campaign
-the entire "About Us" section and "Media" section
-an extensive clipping of various newspaper articles and media releases can be found here: articles
At the moment, Pipistrel is housed in a 5000m2 facility adjacent to the airport in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and employs 74 people.
In the 22 years of existence we produced over 300 aircraft of the Sinus-Virus family and over 50 aircraft of the Taurus-Apis family. Together with the powered hang-gliders and other projects, this sums up to close to 1000 aircraft.
We continue with the trend of intense investments into research, high-technology equipment and development. In 2008, we invested 1,2 M EUR into research & development, which represented one quarter of the entire 2008 yearly turnover. We expect to do the same again in 2009.
Information for media:
We provide some free photographic and text material available for the media.
To access the restricred area, please send an e-mail to our public relations service and request the media username and password.
Files that you will find in the restricted area once you are given a password:
-a selection of high-resolution photographs of our Aircraft, banners and logotypes
(under the "High-Res Photo Gallery" section)
-a short introduction of Pipistrel, history and products (in English)
-Kratka predstavitev podjetja Pipistrel (in Slovene language - v slovenščini) - in the "Presentations" section
-Full introduction of Pipistrel, including history, products, competitions and awards, system and organisation, ECOlution campaign and future projects.
(in the "Presentations" section)
Many other useful information for media can be found around the website. Check:
-OUR REFERENCES
-ECOlution campaign
-the entire "About Us" section and "Media" section
-an extensive clipping of various newspaper articles and media releases can be found here: articles
About the name: "why Pipistrel?"
Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina has been established in 1987, as the first private aircraft producer in former Yugoslavia. Back then, under the totalitarian Yugoslavian regime, it was almost unimaginable for a private person to make aircraft at home.
Alternative aviation really was alternative in those times. Being a private aircraft producer doesn't seem like a big deal nowadays, but 22 years ago, offering an alternative to military aviation and army-regulated sports airfields was what really opened flying to the wider public. Therefore, Pipistrel can rightfully claim the title of the pioneer of alternative flying in Slovenia.
Under the former Yugoslavia, alternative and ultra-light flying was all but illegal. It was because of these prohibitions that we named our company "Pipistrel". The airfield where we began our first flying attempts belonged to the army - so the ultra-light pilots, if they wanted to fly, had to do it in secret. They had to wait until the regular sports and army pilots finished flying for the day, locked up the hangars and left - and then try to sneak in an hour or two of flying before the darkness fell.
At first, the company produced only powered hang-gliders - and as they were flying late in the evening, using lights at the front of their aircraft, with the triangular shaped hang-glider wings, the local people jokingly started to call them "bats". Latin word for a bat is "pipistrellus" - and the rest is history.
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