The Pipistrel Virus is my new favorite GA aircraft

[styckx 1,869]

Never heard of this thing until MSFS 2020 and I skipped over it numerous times because it just looked like a silly toy in the thumbnail.. So I decided to finally fly it tonight and my expectations were pretty low as these ultralight style aircraft are usually lacking the "it factor" for me.

But holy cow.. This little bugger performs, and it has a top notch avionics package packed into this little tiny thing.  If you're into low and slow VFR but want all the feel and comfort of a glass cockpit  with some nostalgia of steam also.. This is the bird for you..   This is like the perfect middle ground for me between digital and analog.. 

 

[Todd2 2,055]

Yes I've been using it alot lately.

[scotchegg 4,158]

Same! This and the Savage Cub are my two go-to VFR birds atm.

[odourboy 1,286]

One more here!

[MatthewS 761]

The 3D modelling of the default aircraft is truly next level. 👍

With the autopilot on these GA aircraft how does it maintain altitude? By the electronic trim?

I noticed in the XCub if I turn off the autopilot the plane pitches up quite aggressively as if the trim is instantly reverting to its position prior to engaging the AP.

Surely this is a bug? I would have thought the trim should maintain its current position when the AP is disengaged.

Does the Virus do the same thing? (I'm only using the Standard version of MSFS atm so I can't check)

Edited August 24, 2020 by MatthewS

[ray hughes 165]

Ditto.. Like this little puppy.. More sophistication in this than most of the other FS twin seaters..

[flyinion 280]

Thanks for the tip. I definitely need to check these new ones out. I’ve been using the 172 just because it’s familiar and the 152 a bit but a lot of the new stuff looks like the aircraft version of a Porsche to me so I’m definitely intrigued. 

[styckx 1,869]

45 minutes ago, ray hughes said:

Ditto.. Like this little puppy.. More sophistication in this than most of the other FS twin seaters..

That's what I love about this.

You can hand fly it like a cub or cross country like a TBM because the avionics packed in are just that good and functional. Then add in the raw power this little bugger has. Holy cow it's a load of fun to fly

Edited August 24, 2020 by styckx

[Slides 1,552]

Why did they name it the Virus? It's predecessor was the named the Sinus. Odd

[Colonel X 1,428]

How's the performance compared to the 152? I would expect a decrease due to the glass cockpit?

[precog 98]

I hope the Pipistrel alpha comes to MSFS.  Loved flying that thing in real life.

[ParaMan 53]

Yeah I love it. Would love to try one out IRL.

[sidfadc 1,340]

Not tried this yet...

[ckyliu 1,749]

Shame they didn't put a similar avionics fitout in the CTLS, as it actually performs slightly better than the SW 121 irl.

[LHookins 3,102]

3 minutes ago, ckyliu said:

Shame they didn't put a similar avionics fitout in the CTLS

Interesting little airplane, but if you have two 170 pounders you can't carry much fuel at all.  (I only know this because it does NOT have a glass cockpit! 😄 )

I decided to heck with it, I'd carry two 170 people people and full fuel.  It flew.  It needed quite a bit of power, and flew somewhat nose high.  But it flew.

Hook