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Pipistrel Taurus 503

The Pipistrel Taurus is a self-launching motor glider with a retractable engine behind the cockpit. When the engine is stowed, its clean long wing gives excellent soaring performance; when deployed, it can take off independently. This dual role makes it a distinctive specialist aircraft.

Did you know?

The Taurus was the world's first side-by-side self-launching motor glider, more comfortable than the tandem-seat sailplanes it competed against.

Specifications

Length7.3 m (24 ft)
Wingspan15 m (49 ft)
Height1.1 m (4 ft)
Maximum passengers1
Persons on board2
Crew1
Maximum take-off weight0.5 t
Range500 NM (926 km)
Maximum speed120 kt (222 km/h)
Stall speed34 kt (63 km/h)
Service ceiling18,000 ft (5,486 m)
Rate of climb570 ft/min (2.9 m/s)
Take-off distance230 m (755 ft)
Fuel capacity30 l
Engines1x Rotax 503

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Pipistrel Taurus 503 starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Pipistrel, the Taurus 503 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.

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