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The Pipistrel Virus 912 is a side-by-side two-seater, single-engine, high-wing ultralight aircraft with a fixed tricycle
nose wheel or tail-dragger type landing gear. The full composite construction Pipistrel Virus 912 is developed and built
by Pipistrel d.o.o. Ajdovscina in Slovenia. The variable pitch propeller of the Pipistrel Virus 912 is powered by a single 80 hp
four-stroke Rotax 912UL engine. The Virus is equipped with a 12,4- or 10-meter wingspan. The 12.46-meter Virus 912 is a touring
motor glider. The LSA Virus 912 is a cruise aircraft suited for cross-country flying and aero-clubs and training flights. The
cabin area is encased with energy absorbing structures made from Kevlar fibre, and the Virus can be equipped with the ballistic
parachute rescue system. Virus won the 2007 Personal Air Vehicle Challenge and the 2008 General Aviation Technology Challenge,
both events sponsored by NASA. |
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On 1 April 2019, Pipistrel Virus 912 s/n 944VN912 was seen at Hilversum airfield fitted with a 'Wings for Aid' cargo bay mounted on the wing.
Wings For Aid is a community that developed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System that delivers safely humanitarian goods with a very high
accuracy to people isolated by natural disasters and man-made crises. The 2018-built aircraft was registered I-D224 and used by Wings for Aid
for testing the system of dropping the boxes. On 23 and 24 October 2019, Wings for Aid was permitted to fly and test the system with the I-D224
at the grounds of the former Deelen AFB, by which cargo bays were mounted on both wings of the aircraft from which a maximum of three boxes
could be dropped per bay. With a view to possible military applications of the system, the Dutch Ministry of Defense provided support to this
project. On 15 January 2020, Pipistrel I-D224 was again used for testing the system, this time at the Wacawa defense training area at Curacao.
The next day, when the aircraft flew back to Curaçao-Hato International Airport (CUR/TNCC) the I-D224 suffered loss of engine power on final
and landed short of the runway in rough terrain. The Pipistrel aircraft suffered only minor damage to wheelspats. After this landing incident,
the Pipistrel returned to the Netherlands. In March 2021, Pipistrel Virus 912 I-D224 was sold to a privat owner who will base the aircraft
at MLA airfield Stadskanaal (EHST).
On 3 March 2021, Pipistrel Virus 912 I-D224 was seen at Hoogeveen airfield in the Netherlands.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Pipistrel Virus is PIVI. |
