Flight School Aircraft Lessor VR Leasing to Offer 20 Pipistrel Voyager for Lease in 2027

USA – flight training organisation specialized aircraft lessor VR Leasing has outlined plans to introduce the Pipistrel Voyager to its aircraft leasing portfolio in 2027, targeting flight schools seeking to reduce training costs while accessing a new generation of training aircraft. The offering will provide flight training organisations with an alternative to outright aircraft acquisition, combining flexible leasing arrangements with the Voyager's broader training capabilities.

• The two-seat Pipistrel Voyager is powered by a Rotax 912 ULS engine and incorporates Garmin AXIS avionics, a three-axis autopilot, an integrated ballistic parachute and a haptic stall-warning system. Designed to align with the FAA's Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) framework, the aircraft is intended to support IFR training, intentional-spin instruction and training progression from initial to advanced stages. Published preliminary specifications include a 552 lb useful load and a maximum range of 740 nautical miles, including IFR reserves.
• VR Leasing expects to make 20 Pipistrel Voyager aircraft available for lease during 2027, with the first deliveries anticipated in Q1 and further deliveries planned across all four quarters of the year.
• The lessor estimates that the Voyager could deliver approximately 33% lower operating costs compared with traditional flight training aircraft. VR Leasing is positioning the aircraft's operating economics and training capabilities as central considerations for flight schools evaluating fleet modernisation and expansion.
• Initial discussions with prospective flight school customers indicate interest in several training applications. Some operators are evaluating the Voyager for hour-building and later-stage pilot qualifications, while others are considering its use for ab initio training or across the complete training curriculum.
• The aircraft has already attracted an initial fleet commitment from US flight training provider Epic Flight Academy, which became Pipistrel's launch customer in July 2026. Epic placed a firm order for 10 Voyager aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2027, alongside options for 20 additional aircraft in 2028 and another 20 in 2029, bringing the potential acquisition to 50 aircraft.
• North American operators will appreciate Pipistrel's existing US customer support infrastructure. In July 2025, Pipistrel established a spare-parts warehouse at Textron eAviation's headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, to support maintenance and warranty requirements for its aircraft customers across North America.

About VR Leasing
VR Leasing is a Chicago-based aircraft leasing provider specialising in piston aircraft financing and leasing arrangements for flight schools and universities across the United States.

Source: Residco