Albastar Ltd

This article is about the Slovenian sailplane manufacturer. For the Spanish charter airline, see AlbaStar.
Albastar Ltd
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
Founded1993
FounderPavel Potočnik
Headquarters
Begunje na Gorenjskem
,
Slovenia
ProductsGliders
Websitewww.gliders-albastar.com
Albastar Apis

Albastar Ltd (also called Albastar d.o.o.) is a Slovenian aircraft manufacturer, founded by former Elan employee Pavel Potočnik in 1993.[1] It was originally based in Zgornje Gorje and now in Begunje na Gorenjskem.[2] The company specializes in the design and manufacture of gliders and light aircraft in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft, plus the production of subcontract aircraft parts for other manufacturers.[3][4][5]

The company has produced several designs of its own, including the now out-of-production Albastar A1 motorglider and the Albastar Apis sailplane. The current production aircraft is the Albastar AS self-launching sailplane, available as a 13.5 m (44.3 ft) span FAI 13.5 m Class or 18 m (59.1 ft) span FAI Open Class sailplane.[6]

Albastar also has collaborated with other companies, notably Pipistrel on the development of the Pipistrel Sinus motor glider for which it completed the majority of the aerodynamic work. Albastar continues to produce the Sinus wings as well as the wings for the Pipistrel Virus and Pipistrel Taurus.[4]

The company also produced propellers for ultralight trikes and wind turbine blades for electrical power generation.[4]

  1. ^ "Gliders Albastar - Pavel Potočnik". Gliders Albastar - Sailplanes. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Gliders - Albastar contact sale information". Gliders Albastar - Sailplanes. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  3. ^ Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 53. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. ^ a b c Albastar Ltd (2012). "Development project of the last decade". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. ^ Albastar (2013). "Company Albastar d.o.o." Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ^ Albastar (2013). "AS 13,5 m FES (FAI Class)". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2015.