Pipistrel Aircraft will offer its new Alpha King trainer with BendixKing avionics, the Slovenian manufacturer announced at Oshkosh last week
The Alpha King will be available with the VFR-only xVue Touch integrated flight deck from later this year.
According to Pipistrel, the idea behind the xVue Touch project is to provide student pilots with modern avionics without confronting them with complex systems that are more appropriate to IFR flight.
"We want to ensure that students and instructors can take advantage of all the advancements afforded by new technology while still delivering a high-quality aircraft, which makes the Alpha King an ideal solution for flight schools,” said Ivo Boscarol, founder and president, Pipistrel.
“We recognize the unmatched value in BendixKing avionics, which enables us to offer an extremely cost-effective and affordable new generation of training aircraft and build upon our existing, ongoing relationship with Honeywell as a whole.”
xVue Touch has several advanced software features including SmartView synthetic vision system that shows the aircraft flight path over terrain and display of ADS-B weather.
“With the xVue Touch, we can help Pipistrel deliver advanced technologies while keeping flight schools’ operational costs low,” said Gregg Cohen, president, BendixKing. “Aspiring pilots can train using sophisticated technology that’s easy to use, enabling them to get their pilot licenses in significantly less time.
"Plus, our advanced flight deck is simple to maintain and lightweight, saving flight schools money in the long run.”
The xVue Touch can be installed in new aircraft or as a replacement for traditional mechanical instruments. The displays are panel-mounted and don’t have cooling fans or moving parts, making it easier and less costly to maintain over time.
Based on the Alpha LSA, the Rotax-powered Alpha King two-seater is expected to sell for around $US130,000.