Italy – headquartered training aircraft manufacturer Blackshape unveiled its new Prime Xplorer taildragger variant at Aero Friedrichshafen 2025, signaling a renewed commercial strategy under new leadership and a focused push into the U.S. and global training markets with its Gabriel trainer aircraft.

• Blackshape launched the Prime Xplorer light sport aircraft in response to demand from the U.S. market.

• The introduction aligns with CEO Niccolo Chierroni’s strategy to scale production to two aircraft per month by early 2026.

• The company has delivered over 100 aircraft to date, including 80+ Prime units and around 20 Gabriel BK160-200s.

• Gabriel, its flagship trainer, is targeting commercial and military introductory flight training markets globally.

• US certification of the Gabriel was achieved in June 2024, and deliveries began late last year.

• Blackshape appointed BravoFox in Indiana as its first U.S. distributor and plans to establish a legal subsidiary in the country.

• Key product upgrades include:

  • A more powerful Prime variant with a Rotax 915 engine

  • A Gabriel model with a Rotax engine capable of operating on mogas for emerging markets

  • Planned collaboration with CMD for a hybrid-electric Prime

• Design enhancements under study for the Gabriel include a taller bubble canopy, aerobatic turboprop variant, and a side-by-side cockpit layout.

• The company is considering relocating its manufacturing operations from Monopoli to Grottaglie to improve integration with flight testing and aerospace industry partners.

• A major priority is the expansion of its global aftersales support and maintenance network to better serve its growing fleet.

Statements:

• “This is an aircraft that the [US] market was asking for,” said CEO Niccolo Chierroni. “We are in negotiations with customers worldwide and are confident of receiving dozens of [Gabriel] orders this year.”

Source: Blackshape
Photo Credit: Blackshape