Wassmer Aviation Wa-80 Piranha

Single Piston

The Wassmer WA-80 Piranha was a pioneering French composite aircraft that emerged in the mid-1970s as one of Europe's earliest production designs to exploit fiberglass construction for a four-seat touring aircraft. Built by Wassmer Aviation—a glider manufacturer that transitioned to powered aircraft—the Piranha featured a distinctive low-wing configuration with a 160 hp Lycoming O-320 engine and fixed tricycle gear. Its composite fuselage and wings delivered smooth aerodynamics and a relatively spacious cabin, though the type never achieved commercial success and production ended around 1980 after fewer than 100 examples were completed. The WA-80 represented an ambitious attempt to bring composite technology to the certified general aviation market a decade before companies like Cirrus and Diamond would make the approach mainstream. Its cruise speed of approximately 135 knots and range of around 600 nautical miles were competitive with metal contemporaries like the Piper Arrow, but higher acquisition costs and limited dealer networks constrained sales. Today the Piranha remains a rare sight, with most survivors concentrated in France and a handful scattered across Europe. SkyMeter has tracked 1 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with distinct routes observed.