Pipistrel Panthera

Single Piston

The Pipistrel Panthera is a sleek four-seat composite aircraft from Slovenia's Pipistrel, the company best known for pioneering electric and ultralight aviation. First flown in 2011 and EASA-certified in 2020, the Panthera represents Pipistrel's ambitious entry into the certified general aviation market, a departure from their ultralight roots. With its all-composite construction, retractable tricycle gear, and bubble canopy, the Panthera targets the high-performance touring segment occupied by Cirrus and Mooney, offering cruise speeds around 190 knots on a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-540 engine. What sets the Panthera apart is its European pedigree and focus on efficiency: the airframe achieves a glide ratio exceeding 17:1, exceptional for a retractable single, and burns roughly 12 gallons per hour at cruise, numbers that appeal to cost-conscious European operators facing high avgas prices. The spacious cabin seats four adults with baggage, and the large canopy provides near-360-degree visibility. Pipistrel designed the aircraft with an eye toward future electric or hybrid propulsion, and the company has publicly discussed plans for a Panthera-E variant, though the piston version remains the only certified model as of 2024. Production has been limited, with fewer than two dozen aircraft delivered worldwide, making the Panthera a rare sight on the ramp. Pipistrel's 2022 acquisition by Textron Aviation brought the design under the same corporate umbrella as Cessna and Beechcraft, though the Panthera's future production trajectory remains uncertain. The type appeals to owner-pilots seeking European craftsmanship, modern composite construction, and cross-country performance in a package that's more efficient than legacy American designs. SkyMeter has tracked 3 flights across 2 airframes and 2 operators, with MERRIMAN JOEL A the largest observed operator.