MENU
  • Products
      • GENERAL AVIATION
        • menu-pantheraPanthera
          The sleekest and most efficient, perfectly designed four-seater with retractable landing gear for your comfortable and affordable travels.

          LEARN MORE >
        • menu-explorerExplorer
          Its airframe offers unbeatable aerodynamics while being robust for landing on unprepared terrains.

          LEARN MORE >
        • menu-velisVelis Club
          The Velis Club suits a wide range of uses from basic flight instruction, to glider towing, and long-range cross-country flying with unbeatable performance.

          LEARN MORE >
        • menu-velis-electroVelis Electro
          First ever Type Certified electric powered aeroplane, fully approved for pilot training in Day VFR operations.

          LEARN MORE >
      • LIGHT SPORT & MICROLIGHT
        • nav-alphatrainerAlpha Trainer
          A lightweight and simple solution for competitive training. The perfect compromise between good performance and low price.

          LEARN MORE >
        • nav-alphaelectroAlpha Electro
          A revolutionary airplane capable of flying with 1 EUR energy cost per hour. No engine rumble in the cockpit, no need for headsets, no annoyance to the neighbourhood.

          LEARN MORE >
        • nav-virusswVirus SW
          The most advanced and affordable 2-seat EASA Type-certified airplane in its category, it is the ideal Trainer or Personal Travel Airplane.

          LEARN MORE >
      • GLIDERS
        • nav-tauruselectroTaurus Electro
          Electric powered 2-seat side-by-side versatile self-launching glider with twin landing gear for totally independent gliding.

          LEARN MORE >
        • nav-taurusmTaurus M
          Fuel powered 2-seat side-by-side versatile self-launching glider with twin landing gear for totally independent gliding.

          LEARN MORE >
        • nav-sinusSinus
          Four aircraft in one: a perfect glider, an efficient and fast cross-country cruiser, a versatile trainer, and a flexible wingspan solution transformer.

          LEARN MORE >
      • OTHER PRODUCTS
        • Velis X-Alpha VR Simulator
        • Electric Engine E-811
        • Battery Systems and BMS
        • Charging Infrastructure
        • 51% KITS
        • Propellers
        • Additional Equipment
        • Extreme Flights
        • Controls for Disabled
        • Smart Dim
        • Legacy Products
  • Special Missions
  • Air Cargo
  • Service & Support
    • Online Training Academy
    • Technical Publications
      • Technical Publications Portal
      • Illustrated parts catalogue
    • Maintenance
    • Issue Reporting
      • Warranty/Maintenance Report
      • Safety/Occurrence Report
      • Product Improvement
      • LSA – MRA
    • Product Registration
    • Find Support Near You
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Design Certifications
    • Projects
    • News
    • Careers
    • Distributors & Flight Schools
    • General and Warranty Terms
  • Menu Menu

Pipistrel Surveyor is the special mission programme

for SURVEILLANCE PLATFORMS

which can be piloted, optionally piloted, or prepared to be UAV

Description
Pipistrel aircraft, despite having an engine, were originally designed as gliders; this means they are able to perform many tasks with the engine switched off, completely silent over the target, with a very low IR signature and radar reflection. Because of very low drag and power requirements, they can fly very long distances, have extreme endurances and can reach extreme altitudes.
These advantages have made the Pipistrel Aircraft also a perfect Surveyor Platform, a leading choice all over the world by civil authorities, special agencies, surveillance services and military operations. and anywhere a specially designed, individually customized platform is needed. The Pipistrel Surveyor family is based on the very successful SW airframe, the very same aircraft that NASA awarded first prize in both at the Personal Air Vehicle challenge in 2007 and at the General Aviation Technology challenge in 2008 and the foundation for EASA Type certified SW 121.
The Pipistrel Surveyor can be supplied as manned surveillance aircraft, UAV baseline platform, or an optionally piloted aircraft.

Advantages
Pipistrel Surveyors are ideal for a wide variety of aerial tasks because of their specific design characteristics and they have many advantages:
• They are much less expensive to operate and use unleaded automotive fuel or Avgas
• They can take-off and land on grass or unprepared surfaces, not just hard runways
• They are very quiet, more than 50% quieter than a normal small aircraft
• In the air, they look like an inconspicuous sport/recreational aircraft and they are not treated suspiciously
• When piloted their high wing offer ideal views of the ground through enormous transparent doors
• They can be flown without the doors fitted, making them ideal so for visual aerial survey and hand photography
• They can be equipped with tundra wheels that allow take-off and landing from unprepared surfaces, no airport is needed
• They can be equipped with a ballistic rescue system, which saves the whole aircraft together with the crew if ever needed
• They can carry many different payloads, sensors and surveillance systems
• They can be easily dismantled in less than 15 minutes and stored in a dedicated trailer. Therefore, a hangar is not needed, and a regular vehicle can tow the aircraft in the trailer, no special transport is needed
• Because of the specific design philosophy, they need much less power than other comparable aircraft and consequentially provide extreme flight range even in the standard, basic configuration.

Missions:
The Pipistrel Surveyor services can be used for all the following missions, and more:
• Day and Night operations
• Border Surveillance and Control
• Locating poachers and unauthorised activity in National Parks and other wildlife areas
• Homeland Security
• Special Events Security
• All kinds of Surveillance including communications interception
• Moving target detection and tracking
• Traffic Observation
• Convoy protection
• Power/Oil/Pipeline Monitoring
• Fire/ Natural Disaster Management
• Disaster Help – Civilian Support
• Airborne Data Acquisition
• Pollution Control
• Crime prevention
• Wildlife Management
• Forest Protection and Management
• Seaport monitoring
• Maritime/Coastal Patrol
• SAR Operation and Victim discovery
• All kind of aerial photography
• Aerial cartography, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional
• 3D terrain scanning, mining surveys, excavation quantity calculations etc
• 3D terrain modelling for future development, buildings, roads, railways etc

Pipistrel Platforms are highly efficient low-drag, high-wing composite construction monoplanes with a front-mounted engine, and enhanced aerodynamics, which permit also for unpowered gliding flight with high performance. The high cantilever wing makes the platforms ideal for surveillance. They are proven in the hardest operating conditions all over the world with permitted temperature from -20°C to + 50 °C.
Any Pipistrel platform manned aircraft can be configured as an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), meaning that the aircraft can be flown by an onboard pilot, should this be desired, or as a pure unmanned aerial system (UAV) i.e. never having a provision for a pilot/person on board. This decision must be made early in the process, as it heavily influences the design of the platform and its features.

Pipistrel can offer further specialised Surveyor customized platforms, adapted to customers special needs with aircraft capable of:
• Flying at extreme altitudes (up to 30,000 feet)
• With extra-long range (up to 4500 km) and
• With endurance at cruise speed up to 30 hours
• Capable of take-off and landing from airfields higher than 4.500 meters
• MTOM up to 900 kg (special designed platforms for even higher requests can be designed and produced for our customers)

To be able to design the Platform according to the most suitable customer’s needs, we may require the following information:
• the requested aircraft certification in the target country for such aircraft and aerial work (type of certification)
• preferred range
• desired cruise speed
• desired top speed
• preferred endurance and at what speed
• desired ceiling
• planned highest landing altitude
• expected highest and lowest temperature for operation (in Celsius)
• Single pilot & operator crew (one set of flight controls) or twin crew (two sets of flight controls) if not UAV
• Preferred placement of the sensors, weights, sizes and required energy consumption.
• Any requested structural modifications and supports (SAR multiband sensors, GSM and satellite tracking systems, lidars and magnetometers)
• Requested modifications of the controls, servos and antennas position, additional power supply if UAV
• Requested modifications of the electric system and if additional power supply needed
• Cockpit avionics requirements IFR, VFR etc
• Special avionics requests (weather radar, lighting radar, long-wave radio, what redundancy is requested etc.)
• Integration of the payloads, flight control system, servos, etc done by Pipistrel or customer

Fleet experience and references:
Almost 200 of our Surveyors are already flying as OPV or UAV in different parts of the world, including:
Amazilia Aerospace GmbH – Germany
ARGUS Aviation Technologies AG – Switzerland
Beijing HXHD Science & Technology Co., Ltd – China
Brigata Folgore Esercito Italiano – Italia
Danish Armed Forces – Denmark
DZYNEtech – USA
Government of Jharkhand – India
IIT Kampur – India
Indian Airforce – India
Indian Navy – India
King Abdullaziz KACST – Saudi Arabia
Military University of Technology -Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna – Poland
Ministry of Defense – China
Ministry of Defense – Slovenia
Ministry of Interior – Slovakia
NASA – USA
Quing An – China
SOCOM – USA – (more info: https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/pipistrels-surveyor-deployed-also-with-us-special-forces/ )
Tata Airspace – India
Technology Service Corp. – USA
US Airforce – USA
Weizhen Aviation Technology – China
Wings For Aid Foundation – Netherlands

Pipistrel has a valid Consent for Production and Trade of Military Weapons and Equipment
from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia.

PreviousNext
Surveyor - Pipistrel MALE Surveillance platform
TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Standard Surveyor models Inclusions:
To make the choice easier Pipistrel offer 6 basic models of Surveyor Platforms which all feature:
• Exterior surfaces partially painted in matte grey acrylic paint, partially in white, cabin interior composite surfaces in grey
• Automatic connection of wing and tail mechanical controls
• Flaperons, elevator & rudder gaps sealed
• Airbrakes (if rapid descent is needed)
• Wingtip navigation lights, strobes and landing LED lights
• Electric elevator trim
• Modified engine cowling upper parts prepared for additional electric generators
• Camloc fasteners on the engine covers
• Ballistic Parachute for complete aircraft recovery
• Structural provisions for belly-mounted gimbals in the fuselage
• Side door for payload access behind the cockpit
• Sliding window on the right door
• Cabin ventilation adjustable intake on left door
• Noise-reducing & stainless-steel protected firewall
• Oil check door on top of the engine cover
• UV protected, slightly tinted, scratch-free Lexan windshield or opaque painted in grey (customer choice)
• Three-point door fixation points
• Doors locks on both doors
• Drag reducing fairings on main wheels
• Integrated fuel tanks in the wings with filler neck. Fuel valves in the cockpit for fuel management.
• Fuel gascolator with drain sump
• Oil thermostat
• Electric starter
• High capacity LI-FE 12.4 Ah 12V battery
• 12 VDC (40A) payload bus, 12 V aircraft bus
• All throttle control cable Bowdens made from polyamide
• 12 VDC plug
• Wing heated Dynon pitot tube with integrated AOA measurement capability and necessary wing modification
• Tailor-developed propeller & spinner
• Wings, tail and fuselage cover made from light cloth
• Ground tie-down kit with anchors, ropes and tie-down rings in the wing
• Rotax toolkit
• Removable wingtips on LAME, MALE & HALE models to reduce the hangaring wingspan to 12.15 m (39′ 10.3″) to fit in classic American-size T hangar
• Nose wheel undercarriage (Except HALE model): Steerable nose wheel type, oil/spring suspension, front-wheel size 4.00 x 4, main landing gear, wheels size 4.00 x 6 mounted on a single composite strut equipped with Pipistrel type disk brake
• Tail wheel undercarriage (HALE model): Steerable tail wheel type, main landing gear, wheels size 6.00 x 6 mounted on a single composite strut equipped with Beringer type disk brake, steerable tail wheel size 200 x 50
• Rotax Engine: four-cylinder, four-stroke, dual ignition, integrated gearbox version with 2 oil coolers and customized engine cowlings optimal for extra hot climate conditions, engine overload clutch, Titanium high-performance “Akrapovic” exhaust.
• Reinforced wings with sizable hardpoints on each wing up to 30 kg payload capability at each wing (size and shape TBD) with the wing inner tubes from the cockpit to the hardpoint for the needed power supply
• Structural provisions for belly-mounted gimbals in the fuselage (1 central fuselage-mounted gimbal, turret diameter up to 400 mm)

Manned and optionally piloted platforms include also:
• Instrument panel with, Battery Master switch, Generator master switch and alternator master switch Key magneto switch, 1 switch with automatic fuse for 12 V socket, Automatic fuse for Efis
• Transponder Funke TRT800 mode S, ADS-B out with antenna Radio Funke ATR 833 with 2 headsets HD-1000 and intercom
• SkyView HDX 1100 – Single Screen multifunction engine & flight instrument with all flight and engine instruments functions, Inc. EMS, OAT, F.P., MAP, F.P.,
• GPS with perpetual GPS license, fuel flow control, electronic logbook, fuel, and all engine values, hour meter, clock, flight data recorder, slip indicator, magnetic compass, etc.

Further presented is a choice of platforms with their main characteristics and capabilities. Depending on the actual payload and the type of flight-control system (OP, fully unmanned) and its capabilities, additional performance adjustments and/or limitations may be introduced.

Maximum Zero Fuel Weight explanation:
The difference between aircraft empty weight (for example 370 kg) and MZFW is the payload than can be carried in the fuselage (for example Autopilot, gimbals, additional fuel etc).
If you wish to carry out the mission with the complete amount of fuel, the effective payload carried in the fuselage is MTOM minus weight of fuel, minus aircraft empty weight.
This is to give flexibility to the user to choose to fly with either more payload or more fuel (long mission time).
Weight above MZFW value must be carried in/on the wings.

Models:

MODEL LASE (Low Altitude, Short Endurance) LAME (Low Altitude, Medium Endurance) MASE (Medium Altitude, Short Endurance) MAME (Medium Altitude, Medium Endurance) MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance) HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance)
Wingspan  12.4 m  15 m  10.7 m  10.7 m  15 m  15 m
Removable wingtips NO YES NO NO YES YES
MTOM 600 kg @ 4.0 g 600 kg @ 4.0 g 600 kg @ 4.0 g 750 kg @ 3.8 g Up to 850 kg @ 3.0 g Up to 900 kg @ 2.5 g
MZFW 530 kg 530 kg 555 kg 600 kg 650 kg  770 kg
Fuel capacity 2 x 30 litres each tank 2 x 50 litres each tank 2 x 50 litres each tank 300 litres, carried in 4 tanks 370 litres, carried in 4 tanks 370 litres, carried in 4 tanks
Undercarriage nose wheel type nose wheel type nose wheel type nose wheel type nose wheel type tail wheel type
Certified engine Rotax 912 A2,

80 hp, 2 Carb,

V3 engine gearbox and governor

Rotax 912 A2,

80 hp, 2 Carb,

V3 engine gearbox and governor

Rotax 912 S3,

100 hp, 2 Carb,

V3 engine gearbox and governor

Rotax 912 iSc,

100 hp, fuel injection,

V3 engine gearbox and governor

Rotax 912 iSc,

100 hp, fuel injection,

V3 engine gearbox and governor

Rotax 914,

115 hp, turbocharged, intercooler for extreme altitude

Propeller Pipistrel 2-blade, non-certified carbon fibre mechanical variable pitch & feathered Pipistrel 2-blade, non-certified carbon fibre mechanical variable pitch & feathered MTV-33-1-A/170-200, 2-blade, EASA certified hydraulic constant speed MTV-33-1-A/170-200, 2-blade, EASA certified hydraulic constant speed MTV-33-1-A/170-200, 2-blade, EASA certified hydraulic constant speed MTV-34, 3-blade, EASA certified hydraulic constant speed
Baseline certification Structure and system according to ASTM F2564. Structure and system according to ASTM F2564. Structure and systems EASA CS-LSA, modifications delta from baseline according to ASTM F2245 Structure and systems according to ASTM F2245 with elements of CS-VLA. Structure and systems based on ASTM F2564. Structure and systems based on ASTM F2564.
Performances/Limitations:
Max altitude 12,000 ft 12,000 ft 18,000 ft 18,000 ft 18,000 ft 30,000 ft capable, most mission time 18.000 ft
Typical operating altitudes 2,000 – 12,000 ft 2,000 – 12,000 ft 2,000 – 12,000 ft 2,000 – 12,000 ft 2,000 – 15,000 ft 10,000 – 22,000 ft
Speed in transfer to/from work area 110 KTAS 100 – 110 KTAS 120 – 130 KTAS 120 – 130 KTAS 100 – 110 KTAS 100 – 110 KIAS
Loitering speed 70 – 90 KIAS 50 – 75 KIAS 70 – 90 KIAS 70 – 90 KIAS 55 – 75 KIAS 65 – 80 KIAS
Endurance at transfer speeds Up to 4 hours Up to 6 hours Up to 5 hours Up to 15 hours Up to 24 hours Up to 20 hours
Endurance at loitering speeds Up to 6 hours Up to 8 hours Up to 8hours 24+ hours Up to 33 hours Up to 25 hours
Gust load speed (turbulence penetration) 90 KCAS 86 KIAS 120 KCAS 120 KCAS 90 KCAS 87 KCAS
Airspeed limitation with equipment carried on external pods* 108 KCAS 108 KCAS 108 KCAS 108 KCAS 108 KCAS 108 KCAS

*before the GVT and flight tests are performed

MORE INFORMATION

For more infromation please contact: surveyor@pipistrel-aircraft.com

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

PIPISTREL d.o.o.
GORIŠKA CESTA 50a
SI – 5270 AJDOVŠČINA
SLOVENIA

info@pipistrel-aircraft.com
tel.: +386 5 36 63 873
fax: +386 5 36 61 263

CONTACT US
  • Products
  • Special Missions
  • Air Cargo
  • Service & Support
  • Company

FLY WITH US

  • > Panthera
  • > Explorer
  • > Velis Club
  • > Velis Electro
  • > Alpha Trainer
  • > Alpha Electro
  • > Virus SW
  • > Taurus Electro
  • > Taurus M
  • > Sinus
Rotax

STAY UPDATED – join our mailing list!

SUBSCRIBE

Search

Jezik – Language

  • Slovenščina
© Copyright - Pipistrel Aircraft - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only

STAY UPDATED
join our mailing list!