Four-seat retractable-gear high-speed tourer · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2013–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Pipistrel Panthera costs approximately $715k (€662k) to $855k (€792k) to buy at 2025 market values, and about $46k (€43k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $576 (€533) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 198 kt (228 mph) and has a published range of 1,500 nm (2,778 km), needing about 1,801 ft (549 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Panthera is the four-seat composite tourer Pipistrel has been developing for over a decade: strikingly efficient, fast for its power and one of very few genuinely new designs aimed at the high-performance single market. When it arrives in numbers it will be a serious alternative to the incumbents. It is not there yet. Certification has run years beyond the original targets, a change of engine to the six-cylinder Lycoming IO-540 forced a redesign, and delivery slots for new orders have slipped accordingly, which means there is no used market, no independent ownership cost history and no fleet experience to draw on. Treat it as a new-order decision with a long lead time, not as an aeroplane you can go and buy.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,360 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 476 kg |
| Maximum operating altitude | 18,000 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 1,260 ft/min |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-V4A5, 260 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 798 lb (362 kg) |
| Published planning range | 1,500 nm (2,778 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 1,005 nm (1,861 km) |
| Cruise speed | 198 kt (228 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,801 ft (549 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $27k (€25k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $238 (€220) |
Exceptional speed and efficiency in a sleek four-seat package, but support depth and retractable-gear complexity require careful ownership planning.
Indicative cash costs at 2025 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $37k (€34k) | $913 (€845) | $960k (€889k) |
| 80 h / year | $46k (€43k) | $575 (€533) | $1.01m (€933k) |
| 120 h / year | $56k (€51k) | $463 (€428) | $1.06m (€977k) |
| 180 h / year | $70k (€65k) | $388 (€359) | $1.13m (€1.04m) |
Every figure above is built from a $27k (€25k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $238 (€220) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $52k (€48k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Pipistrel Panthera cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2025 market price for a Pipistrel Panthera is $715k (€662k) to $855k (€792k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Pipistrel Panthera works out at roughly $46k (€43k) annually, which is about $576 (€533) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $238 (€220).
Published range is 1,500 nm (2,778 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 1005 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Pipistrel Panthera requires complex airplane endorsement. Retractable gear puts this aircraft in the complex class of 14 CFR 61.31(e), alongside flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller, which retractable types carry as a matter of course. It is a one-time instructor endorsement in your logbook, but the insurance condition behind it is the part that costs money: underwriters usually want a stated number of hours in retractable-gear aircraft before they will write the risk at standard rates. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,801 ft (549 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.