Cessna maker Textron to acquire electric aircraft maker Pipistrel

Textron, maker of Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft, has acquired Slovenian-Italian electric aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel and plans to establish a new division to develop electric aircraft.

Pipistel is the world leader in electric aircraft. Cessna maker Textron plans to use Pipistrel’s knowledge and resources to make significant strides in the development of electric aircraft, write it in a press release. It will therefore set up a new business unit, Textron eAviation. This business unit will also make new Pipistrel aircraft.

Pipistrel CEO and founder Ivo Boscarol will remain as chairman emeritus and will remain a minority shareholder in the company. He will also be involved in future plans and strategies as a consultant for the next two years. Boscarol has been CEO of the company for the past thirty years and has stood at the cradle of the switch to developing electric aircraft. To date, Pipistrels Velis Electro is the only electric aircraft to have a type certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency. In a backstory we recently went into more detail about that plane.

Textron’s new division will be based in Wichita, Kansas, but Pipistrel will remain based in Slovenia and Italy. The Pipistrel brand will also continue to exist. The acquisition is expected to be completed before the summer, once the acquisition has been approved.