Textron Inc. the multi-industry company behind brand names such as Bell, Cessna and Beechcraft, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, has agreed to purchase Slovenia- and Italy-based Pipistrel, the manufacturer of small light aircraft and the Pipistrel Velis Electro, the world’s first and currently only, electric aircraft to receive full type-certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The acquisition will provide Pipistrel with access to superior resources, together with a global network for sales and support, enabling it to accelerate its development and certification of electric and hybrid electric aircraft. With the acquisition, Textron will now create a new enterprise, Textron eAviation, devoted to the development of sustainable aircraft, including those by Pipistrel.
Pipistrel was launched in 1989 and since then has sold over 2,500 light aircraft, while the company’s history in the sustainable sector of the industry dates back to 2000, subsequent to which it has made several electric aircraft introductions, as well as having both hybrid and electric propulsion models under development. The sale of Pipistrel to Textron includes Pipistrel d.o.o., Pipistrel Vertical Solutions d.o.o and Pipistrel Italia S.r.l.
“Pipistrel puts Textron in a uniquely strong position to develop technologies for the sustainable aviation market and develop a variety of new aircraft to meet a wide range of customer missions,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly.
“Under my 30-year leadership, Pipistrel’s team has achieved a unique prime position in personal, affordable, environmentally friendly and electric aviation. The trend and foundation for future projects has clearly been set,” Pipistrel founder and CEO Ivo Boscarol. “To drive Pipistrel’s ambitious goals and to continue its story of success, the joining of Textron and Pipistrel provides deep expertise and resources which would otherwise be inaccessible to Pipistrel alone.”
