Blackshape Bk160 Prime

Single Piston

The Blackshape BK160 Prime is a sleek Italian two-seat composite aircraft that bridges the gap between light sport and certified aircraft categories. Built by Blackshape Aircraft in Monopoli, Italy, the BK160 emerged in the early 2010s as a modern interpretation of the sport aircraft concept, featuring a carbon-fiber fuselage, retractable landing gear, and a fuel-injected Rotax 912iS engine producing 100 horsepower. Its distinctive raked wingtips and fighter-inspired canopy give it an aggressive profile uncommon in the LSA world, while its relatively low empty weight of around 750 pounds keeps it accessible under various international ultralight and sport pilot regulations. The Prime variant represents the fully-equipped version with advanced avionics and creature comforts that appeal to owner-pilots seeking a fast, efficient cross-country machine. With a cruise speed around 135 knots and a range exceeding 600 nautical miles, the BK160 competes favorably against legacy designs like the Cirrus SR20 in terms of speed-per-dollar, though its smaller cabin and sport-category limitations keep it firmly in the enthusiast niche. The type has found a following among European and North American pilots who value modern composite construction, low operating costs, and head-turning aesthetics. SkyMeter has tracked 1 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with SOMES JASON S the largest observed operator.