The Shape of Tomorrow? Pegaso Is Another Beautiful Light-Sport Airplane You’ve Never Seen

Pilots who have attended the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany may have spotted Pegaso since it first exhibited in 2018. Six years later, the model lacks American representation so Yankee pilots generally don’t know this flying machine.

This is Pegaso, a European “ultralight” that expresses a beautiful style we expect from Italy.

Promecc is better known for their low-wing Sparviero but Pegaso drew lots of admiring looks at Aero 2023.

Let’s take a deeper look at an aircraft that can help imagine what we’ll see as Mosaic emerges from FAA rule making in the second quarter of 2025.

Promecc Pegaso

Promecc Aerospace specializes in the design and manufacture of European-style ultralight aircraft predominantly using carbon fiber construction. As is more common in Europe, the company behind Pegaso and Sparviero has a larger operation involved in professional aviation.

The company’s first design, Sparviero, which translates to Sparrowhawk in English, was introduced in the early 2000s.

This low-wing design evolved into the faster Freccia Anemo (in English: Fast Arrow) that was introduced in 2011, with a new wing design and aerodynamic refinements that produced a cruise speed of 260 kilometers per hour (140 knots) on 100 horsepower.

European aviation journalist Marino Boric writing for this website stated, “Italian ultralight manufacturer Promecc, with deep roots in manufacturing of commercial aviation subassemblies, brought to Aero Friedrichshafen their Pegaso all-composite, sleek, high-wing aircraft, which derives from the low-wing Freccia.

Pegaso offers now a new, more ergonomic interior and Marino reported it was “ready for series production.” Its access doors are now front-hinged, “making cabin entry much easier,” he added.

The well-established, fast, retractable-gear, low-wing aircraft Freccia, which successfully passed the static load tests for the 600-kilogram (1,320 pound) certification in Germany, was also showcased together with Promecc’s best-priced fixed-gear low-wing  (nearby image).

In addition to the Rotax 912 and Rotax 914 turbo, the newer Freccia RG has under the cowling the more powerful Rotax 915iS. As Marino heard from company owner Mauro Dono at Aero 2022, the event was “terrific good” with several sold aircraft. It was not reported if Promecc plans to add the 915iS or (more increasingly, designers say) Rotax’s newest 160 horsepower 916iS. To my eyes, the Pegaso could easily accommodate the larger engine in its long, spacious nose cowling (nearby image).

Promecc informed Marino that they contemplated bringing their aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. If they do, I can imagine a warm response to this handsome airplane. Of course, pilots always want to know the price and Marino believed Promecc’s were enticing.

Marino reported that they intend to offer to the U.S. public the full range of aircraft as factory built but also as “price-competitive” kits.

Kit prices in Europe: Sparviero €40.000 ($43,500 at posting), Pegaso €65.000 ($70,800) and Freccia €69.000 ($75,000). The full configuration of these kits was not known as this article went online. However, that much detail is moot until someone offers to represent the aircraft here because builder support from Italy would be challenging.

What may be most interesting is the potential for those relatively modest kit prices to translate into more affordable factory built prices once American representation is secured.

Here’s how Promecc describes the technical qualities of Pegaso:

• Fuselage is made of carbon fiber and resin certified for aviation industry
• Wing spar and every structural support are completely made of carbon fiber
• Painted with two-component polyurethane varnish, very resistant to UV rays
• Undercarriage is strong and flexible and made of composite materials
• Cockpit is spacious, ergonomic with a sporty finish
• Side-by-side ergonomic seats
• Cockpit is yet comfortable setting and offers excellent visibility
• Plexiglass canopy is available in transparent or with blue tint

With only 100 horsepower, Pegaso can achieve a cruise speed of 255 kilometers per hour (138 knots). Never exceed speed is 300 kilometers per hour (162 knots). Pegaso’s cantilevered wing construction may not allow Mosaic weight capability (up to approximately 3,000 pounds is expected) but its sleek lines assure it can slip through the air smoothly.

Qualify Pegaso to ASTM standards with Rotax’s potent 916iS and the Italian producer could have a Mosaic candidate on their hands. Of course, this still leaves the not-trivial challenge of establishing a distribution beachhead in the world’s largest aviation market. That’s an effort yet to be determined.

As Promecc is a producer of professional aviation components, they may be able to manage efficient manufacturing processes and use their size for economies of scale in the purchase of raw materials. Their work with other large producers may give them connections to create American representation.

This combination of attributes could give the Italian company market entry into the world of Mosaic and what a beautiful shape they bring to the fleet.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
all data supplied by the manufacturer 

• Maximum Takeoff Weight — 1,320 pounds
• Maneuvering Speed — 98 knots
• Stall Speed — 38 knots
• Cruise Speed — 119 knots
• Takeoff Roll — 490 feet
• Landing Distance — 720 feet
• Fuel Capacity — 2 wing tanks holding 14.5 gallons each

ARTICLE LINKS:

• Promecc Aerospace, all contact info and content on this website
• Aero Friedrichshafen, a favorite European airshow celebrating its 30th birthday in 2024