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The Blackshape Prime BS100 is a two-seat tandem, low-wing, single
engine, ultralight aeroplane with retracable landing gear, manufactured
by Blackshape SpA, Monopoli (BA), Italy. The Blackshape Prime is a
further development of the Millennium Master built by Compact Composite
srl, Turin, Italy. The Millennium Master was a full carbonfiber designed
aircraft evolved from the Asso X Jewel, an all-wood homebuilt
cantilever, single engine, two seats, ultralight aircraft designed by
Giuseppe Vidor. The Millennium Master was built to comply with Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules and flew first on 27 May 2006.
A second prototype was flown in December 2007. However production was
planned for October 2007, the Millenium Master didn't enter production
with Compact Composite srl and the company went into bankruptcy. In 2009,
the design was acquired by Blackshape S.p.A., a young enterprise in Monopoli,
that started with a Principi Attivi grant. The design was further developed
into the Blackshape Prime, an extremely strong and low weight aircraft. The
Blackshape Prime features a full carbon-fibre frame; a resistant
protective box around both pilots, internal fire extinguisher and an
internal ballistic chute to provide extra safity for the occupants in
case of an emergency situation. The ultralight version of the Blackshape
Prime powered by a 4-cylinder, 4-stroke liquid/air-cooled Rotax 912 ULS
engine with opposed cylinders nead a take off and landing distance from
150 m and flies at a cruise speed of 275 km/h. The Gabriël is the EASA CS-VLA certified
version of the Bk100-Prime called European UL/Microlight. The aircraft is used for civil
and military flight training and for recreational flying for the more demanding pilot.
Production of the Blackshape Prime and Gabriel aircraft is currently running at just
under two aircraft per week. The build process is notable because the aircraft frame is
entirely constructed from Carbon Fibre using Blackshape’s patented technology. |
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On 25 February 2016, the Blackshape Prime BS100 s/n BPU 030 was registered PH-4N3 in the Netherlands with Air Combat Europe (ACE), Lelystad.
On 3 March 2016, the Blackshape Prime PH-4N3 arrived together with Blackshape Prime PH-4N4 on delivery to Air Combat Europe at Lelystad Airport
out of Brindisi in Italy. The Air Combat Europe (ACE) aircraft are among others used for air combat training. On 27 January 2017, the Blackshape
Prime BS100 PH-4N3 was seen at Lelystad Airport with Dutch Air Force roundels. Despite color and roundel the PH-4N3 is not a military plane |
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