Pipistrel, founded in 1989 by Ivo Boscarol, is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer based in Ajdovščina. Its facilities are located in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and near Gorizia, Italy. Initially specialising in the production of motor-driven hang gliders designed by Boscarol, it expanded its range in the mid-1990s to the production of ultralight aircraft similar to full-size aeroplanes, with the Sinus being one of the first models mass-produced from composite materials. In 2022, the company was acquired by Textron.
MBVision’s role in Pipistrel has taken on many facets, from livery design to corporate branding. MBVision, together with Pipiscrel, worked on EU-funded projects, and at Pipistrel the brand communication work took on a crucial role for the company, which gained momentum in the aviation sector until Textron concluded an agreement in March 2022 to purchase Pipistrel and form a new division for the development of electric aircraft, called Textron eAviation.
The project
The Taurus Electro was announced in 2007 and entered service in 2011, becoming the first mass-produced 2-seater electric aircraft available on the market. In June 2001, Pipistrel began development of the Taurus as one of the first self-launched gliders in the ultralight category. The design utilised the wings of the Pipistrel Sinus with a new two-seat side-by-side fuselage.
The Taurus project saw an intense collaboration between Pipistrel and MBVision. Through this close collaboration and relationship of trust between these two companies, the interior of this glider was born after months of study, development and research.
MBVision’s design expertise through ergonomic studies resulted in the interiors, which are still used for the Electric version developed and currently on the market.
The design interventions did not only characterise the interior, but the teem also took care of the cockpit and pilot interface. This work involved various figures and an international teem, resulting in a unique project.
Three colour versions were envisaged for the development of the interior to complement the styling of the instrument panel in a design that integrated functionality and aesthetic sense.
Based on the Taurus M, an electric version of the model was developed and marketed with a team-designed interior, and the model’s livery was further designed.