# Pipistrel Spider

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Slovenian ultralight trike

Spider General information Type Ultralight trike National origin Slovenia Manufacturer Pipistrel Status Production complete (2018) Number built 250 (1998)[1] History Manufactured 1980s - present Introduction date 1980s

The **Pipistrel Spider** is a [Slovenian](/source/Slovenia) [ultralight trike](/source/Ultralight_trike), designed and produced by [Pipistrel](/source/Pipistrel) of [Ajdovščina](/source/Ajdov%C5%A1%C4%8Dina). The aircraft is supplied as a kit for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft) or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1]

The Spider was sold in Europe by [Flight Team UG & Company AG](/source/Flight_Team_UG_%26_Company_AG) of [Ippesheim](/source/Ippesheim), Germany and was sometimes called the **Flight Team Spider**.[2]

By October 2018 it was listed as a "legacy" product and production had ended.[3]

## Design and development

The aircraft was designed to comply with the [Fédération Aéronautique Internationale](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_A%C3%A9ronautique_Internationale) [microlight](/source/Microlight) category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). It features a [cable-braced](/source/Flying_wires) [hang glider](/source/Hang_glider)-style [high-wing](/source/High-wing), weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-[tandem](/source/Tandem) open cockpit with an optional [cockpit fairing](/source/Cockpit_fairing), [tricycle landing gear](/source/Tricycle_landing_gear) with [wheel pants](/source/Wheel_pants) and a single engine in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration).[1]

The aircraft is made from composites and steel tubing, with its double surface wing covered in [Dacron](/source/Dacron) sailcloth. A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, but typically a 10.50 m (34.4 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type [kingpost](/source/Kingpost) and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, air-cooled, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), [dual-ignition](/source/Dual-ignition) 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) or the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine. The aircraft has an empty weight of 130 kg (287 lb) and a gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb), giving a useful load of 320 kg (705 lb). With full fuel of 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 290 kg (639 lb).[1][4]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off and landing roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 30 m (98 ft).[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 150 hours.[1]

## Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 250 kits had been sold were flying.[1]

## Specifications (Spider)

*Data from* Purdy[1]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Wingspan:** 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)

- **Empty weight:** 129.75 kg (286 lb)

- **Gross weight:** 450 kg (992 lb)

- **Fuel capacity:** 42 litres (9.2 imp gal; 11 US gal)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503) twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [two stroke](/source/Two_stroke) [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine), 37 kW (50 hp)

- **Propellers:** 4-bladed ground adjustable composite

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 179 km/h (111 mph, 96 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 121 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 55 km/h (34 mph, 30 kn)

- **Range:** 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)

- **Service ceiling:** 6,700 m (22,000 ft)

- **Rate of climb:** 5.00 m/s (984 ft/min)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_1-7) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition*, page 222. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WDLA11_2-0)** Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12*, page 211. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Pipistrel Aircraft Spider - Pipistrel"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180615090648/http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/overview). *www.pipistrel.si*. Archived from [the original](http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/overview) on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Pipistrel Aircraft Spider Technical Data"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170921225124/http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/technical-data/). Pipistrel.si. Archived from [the original](http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/technical-data) on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2014.

## External links

- [Official website archive page](https://web.archive.org/web/20180615090648/http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/overview) on [archive.org](/source/Archive.org)

- [Official Spider photo gallery archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20170401012936/http://www.pipistrel.si/trike/spider/gallery)

v t e Flight Team aircraft Ultralight trikes Spider Twister

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pipistrel Spider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel_Spider) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel_Spider?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.