TFC Flight Training Becomes Germany's First Pipistrel Explorer Operator With Two-Aircraft Delivery

Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company and affiliate of Textron Aviation Inc., announced on September 23, 2026 the delivery of two Pipistrel Explorer aircraft to TFC Flight Training, making the Essen-based school the first operator of the type in Germany.

Founded 45 years ago, TFC Flight Training is one of Germany's largest approved flight training organizations. The school already operates four Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft and seven Cessna 152 aircraft. The two Explorer aircraft join that fleet, which is structured around student progression covering cross-country flying, day and night Visual Flight Rules (VFR) training, and spin recovery training. The Explorer features a dual Garmin G3X glass cockpit, a haptic stall warning system, a ballistic parachute, and an AT-1 traffic transponder, and it received certification from Germany's Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) in 2017.

"The Pipistrel Explorer is an additional step on our continuous journey to more modern and sustainable pilot training," said Christian Käufer, CEO of TFC Flight Training. "The Pipistrel Explorer fits seamlessly into our broader strategy at TFC: modern flight training, responsible use of resources and a strong focus on safety and quality." Chris Crow, vice president of sales at Pipistrel, said "TFC Flight Training's adoption of the Explorer demonstrates how training organizations are building integrated fleets that support a wider range of student development needs." Pipistrel is headquartered in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and focuses on electric, hybrid-electric, and conventionally powered aircraft solutions.

TFC's fleet now spans four Velis Electro aircraft, seven Cessna 152s, and two Explorers, an arrangement designed around distinct stages of student development rather than a single dominant type. That structure illustrates how larger training organizations are approaching electrification: adding electric or hybrid types alongside conventional aircraft for tasks like spin recovery and night VFR that the newer types may not yet cover.

For Pipistrel and Textron Aviation, a first national placement of the Explorer in Germany gives the type a reference customer inside one of the country's largest approved training organizations, which could shape how other German schools evaluate the aircraft for similar multi-platform fleets. Whether other operators in Germany or elsewhere follow will depend on how the Explorer performs across the specific training tasks TFC has assigned it, and on further placements Pipistrel and Textron Aviation report from this program.