Pioneer 200

The Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200 is the smallest two-seater in the Italian Pioneer family: a low-wing aircraft of mixed construction with a wooden wing, cruciform tail and fixed tricycle gear. It is built in San Quirino near Pordenone and has been offered both factory-finished and as a kit. In Germany the Pioneer 200 flies under two certification standards: the older DULV data sheet 590/05-1 at 472.5 kg and DAeC type certificate 66235 (LTF-UL 2019, issue dated 7 July 2022) at 540 kg.

Browsing listings you will find wordings such as "Pioneer 200 (DAeC Edition)". That is not a manufacturer series – data sheet 66235 knows only the "200" series. What a seller means by the label, DAeC registration, the 540 kg standard or both, follows solely from the individual aircraft's paperwork; even an airframe registered under 66235 can remain at 472.5 kg if the uprating was never carried out. One point matters when buying used: raising an existing aircraft to 540 kg is only possible under Technical Bulletin 001/2022 issued by Pioneer Aircraft GmbH and must be confirmed in writing by the type supporter. The German data sheet also lists only the 58 kW Rotax 912/UL; more powerful engines are not documented for the 200.

In the air the Pioneer 200 is an economical short- to medium-range tourer. The German type supporter quotes 185 km/h cruise at 75 % power, roughly 215 km/h maximum level speed, around 14 l/h fuel burn and therefore some 850 km of range from the 69-litre tank (an approved equipment option under data sheet 66235; the basic 62-litre installation goes correspondingly less far). Glide ratio is 11:1 and climb about 1,000 ft/min. Minimum speed is 77 km/h CAS at 540 kg and 65 km/h in the 472.5 kg configuration, which keeps short strips within reach.

Strengths include the modest 7.54 m span that saves hangar space, low fuel burn, quiet operation (60.4 dB(A) against a 66.9 dB(A) limit) and simple, repair-friendly wooden construction. The weaknesses are just as clear: at 1.05 m the cabin is narrow, seat load is capped at 110 kg, the old 472.5 kg standard leaves only about 186 kg of useful load, and wood demands a dry, well-ventilated hangar. Compared with the 300 series, speed and range are limited.

That makes the Pioneer 200 a sound choice for budget-conscious pilots looking for a light, frugal ultralight for circuits, day trips and moderate cross-country flying – provided they can live with a snug cabin. The price statistics at the top of this page calculate minimum, average and maximum live from the active offers.