Pipistrel Panthera: Brilliant Airplane, Terrible Business Case

The story begins at AERO Friedrichshafen 2012, when Ivo Boscarol’s Pipistrel unveiled a futuristic, all-carbon four-seat cruiser that could rival the Cirrus SR22 and Beechcraft Bonanza. The Panthera flew for the first time on April 4, 2013, powered by a Lycoming IO-390 and built with the DNA of Pipistrel’s glider heritage, it was light, sleek, and efficient. Early tests promised near-200 KTAS cruise on 14–15 GPH, combining Cirrus-class performance with Diamond Aircraft-style economy.

But engine certification setbacks, EASA CS-23 rule changes, and a switch to the heavier Lycoming IO-540 snowballed into years of redesigns and delays. When Textron — parent of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell, acquired Pipistrel in April 2022, hopes for rapid certification reignited. Yet Textron’s focus shifted to electric aviation under its new eAviation Division, spotlighting the Velis Electro instead of the Panthera.

Today, despite its proven performance, 194 KTAS at 75% power, 1,000-NM range, and a built-in BRS parachute, the Panthera remains stuck in limbo. For Textron, a low-volume piston airplane doesn’t fit alongside the Denali, SkyCourier, or Citation family. For pilots, it’s a dream machine trapped in corporate purgatory, a carbon-fiber masterpiece waiting for a certification that never comes.