How Much Does a Blackshape Prime Cost?

If you’re in the market for a new airplane, you might be considering the Black Shape Prime. But did you know that the design for this plane actually originated from the Vidor ASO X Jewel, designed by Giuseppe Vidor? Millennium Aircraft later designed an all-carbon fiber version of the X Jewel called the Millennium Master, which was picked up by two separate companies: Black Shape and Pellegrin.

Black Shape took the Millennium Master design and released it almost exactly as is, with only minor changes to the outside and a spruced up interior. The Black Shape Prime is the only one of the three planes that you can buy today ready to fly. However, it’s important to note that the Prime has a useful load of only 400 pounds, and the baggage compartment can hold about as much as a microwave. In this article, we’ll explore the features, performance, cost, and insurance of the Black Shape Prime, as well as how it compares to other aircrafts.

Key Takeaways

• The Black Shape Prime originated from the Vidor ASO X Jewel and Millennium Master, which were picked up by Black Shape and Pellegrin.
• The Prime has a useful load of only 400 pounds and a small baggage compartment, but has a cruise speed of 148 knots from Rotex 912. The cost to acquire and operate the Prime is high compared to other ultralights.

The Origin of Black Shape Prime

If you’re in the market for a Black Shape Prime, you may be wondering about its origins. The story starts with a wooden kit plane called the Vidor ASO X Jewel, designed by Giuseppe Vidor. Millennium Aircraft then designed an all-carbon fiber version of the X Jewel, called the Millennium Master, which was faster and smoother due to the carbon fiber construction.

Black Shape picked up the Millennium Master design and released it almost exactly as is, with only minor changes to the exterior and a spruced-up interior. Pellegrin, another company, also picked up the design and made some changes to create the Tarragon, which has a stretched airframe and increased gross weight.

While the Black Shape Prime is the only one of these planes available for purchase as a ready-to-fly model, the other versions can be purchased as build-assist kits. The Black Shape Prime offers a cruise speed of 148 knots from a Rotax 912 engine, but its useful load is only 400 pounds, and the baggage compartment is small.

Although the Black Shape Prime has a full airframe parachute, it has a high accident rate due to lower training and medical requirements to fly the plane. The cost to acquire a Black Shape Prime is high, but its total costs aren’t that high for an airplane that goes this fast.

In summary, the Black Shape Prime is a sleek, brand-new airplane with about as much practicality as a brand-new motorbike. While some argue that it’s not practical to spend a quarter million dollars on a light sport plane when you could buy a used Cessna or a practical car, others appreciate the appeal of a new, slick airplane.

Introduction to Black Shape Prime

If you’re looking for a sleek and modern ultralight aircraft, the Black Shape Prime might be just what you need. It’s a descendant of the Millennium Master, an all-carbon fiber plane designed by Millennium Aircraft. The Millennium Master was faster and smoother than its wooden predecessor, the Vidor ASO X Jewel.

The Black Shape Prime is a ready-to-fly version of the Millennium Master, with a few minor exterior changes and a spruced-up interior. It’s powered by a Rotax 912 engine and can cruise at an impressive 148 knots. However, its useful load is only 400 pounds, and the baggage compartment is quite small.

Despite its high upfront cost, the Black Shape Prime’s operating costs are relatively low. However, insurance can be expensive due to the plane’s accident rate. The Black Shape Prime does have a full airframe parachute, but it hasn’t always been deployed in accidents.

Overall, the Black Shape Prime is a fast and stylish ultralight aircraft, perfect for those who want a brand new plane with the practicality of a motorbike. While it’s not the most practical choice, it’s certainly a unique and exciting one.

Acquisition by Black Shape and Pellegrin

The Black Shape Prime is a unique aircraft that has an interesting history. It all started with a wooden kit plane called the Vidor ASO X Jewel, designed by Giuseppe Vidor. Then, Millennium Aircraft designed an all-carbon fiber version of the X Jewel, which they called the Millennium Master. Black Shape acquired the Millennium Master design and released it almost exactly as is, with only minor changes to the exterior and a spruced-up interior. Meanwhile, Pellegrin out of Latvia also acquired the design and made some changes to it, calling it the Tarragon. The airframe of the Tarragon is stretched 13 inches and has a 400-pound increased gross weight.

While Pellegrin only sells the Tarragon as a build assist kit, Black Shape Prime is the only one you can buy today ready to fly. The Black Shape Prime has a cruise speed of 148 knots from Rotax 912, which is exceptional. However, its performance is only okay at best, with a useful load of only 400 pounds. The full tank of gas weighs 90 pounds, and the baggage compartment can hold about as much as a microwave, located behind the headrest of the passenger seat.

The Black Shape Prime is a relatively expensive aircraft, and depreciation on new fancy ultralights is pretty severe. However, finding a used one is not easy. The operating costs are not exactly low, with insurance on the high side, and the cost of annuals is also high. The accident rate in these planes isn’t great, considering the lower training and medical requirements to fly this plane. This plane does have a full airframe parachute, but of the 11 reported accidents, the parachute wasn’t deployed in one. The number one insurance claim on these airplanes is gear up landings.

Overall, the Black Shape Prime is a slick airplane with about as much practicality as a brand new motorbike. While there are many other composite light sport retracts out there, some people just want a brand new airplane. For the same price as a slightly used highly practical airplane or a slightly used highly practical car, you could have a brand new Black Shape Prime.

Features of Black Shape Prime

The Black Shape Prime is a modern ultralight aircraft that boasts a cruise speed of 148 knots, which is exceptional for its class. It is powered by a Rotax 912 engine, which burns 8 gallons of fuel per hour. The reserve cost for the Rotax is low and unscheduled maintenance is also low.

The airframe of the Black Shape Prime is made of carbon fiber, which makes it smoother and produces less drag. This allows the aircraft to be faster than other similar ultralights, such as the Vidor ASO X Jewel and the Millennium Master. The Black Shape Prime is the only one of these planes that is available for purchase ready to fly.

The Black Shape Prime has a useful load of only 400 pounds and a full tank of gas weighs 90 pounds. The baggage compartment is located behind the headrest of the passenger seat and can only hold about as much as a microwave. However, this is to be expected from an aircraft that weighs about the same as a large motorbike.

The Black Shape Prime has a full airframe parachute, which is a safety feature that can save lives in case of an emergency. However, of the 11 reported accidents, the parachute wasn’t deployed in one. The number one insurance claim on these airplanes is gear up landings.

The cost to acquire a Black Shape Prime is relatively high, but total costs are not that high for an airplane that goes this fast. The cost of annuals is on the high side, but a chunk of that annual cost is allocated towards repacking the parachute. Insurance is also on the high side, although only about 25% of that is liability.

Overall, the Black Shape Prime is a sleek and modern ultralight aircraft that is perfect for those who want a brand new aircraft with about as much practicality as a brand new motorbike. While there are many other composite light sport retracts out there, the Black Shape Prime stands out for its speed, safety features, and unique design.

Performance Analysis

The Black Shape Prime is a composite light sport aircraft that can cruise at an exceptional speed of 148 knots with a Rotax 912 engine. However, the useful load is only 400 pounds, and the full tank of gas weighs 90 pounds. The baggage compartment, located behind the headrest of the passenger seat, can only hold about as much as a microwave.

The Black Shape Prime has a high upfront cost, and the operating costs are not necessarily low. Insurance rates are on the high side, and the cost of annuals is relatively high for a small, almost brand new airplane. The accident rate for the Black Shape Prime is fairly high considering the lower training and medical requirements to fly this plane.

The Black Shape Prime does have a full airframe parachute, but of the 11 reported accidents, the parachute wasn’t deployed in one. The number one insurance claim on these airplanes is gear up landings. However, the reserve cost for the Rotax is low, and so is unscheduled maintenance.

Overall, the Black Shape Prime is a high-performance ultralight that offers about as much practicality as a brand new motorbike for the same price as a slightly used highly practical airplane or car. While there are many other composite light sport retracts available, some people prefer the Black Shape Prime for its brand new, slick appearance and exceptional speed.

Cost and Insurance

When it comes to the Black Shape Prime, there are a few things to consider in terms of cost and insurance.

First, let’s talk about the upfront cost. The Black Shape Prime is not a cheap aircraft, with a price tag of around a quarter of a million dollars. However, if you’re looking for a brand new, slick airplane with a high cruise speed of 148 knots, this may be the plane for you.

In terms of operating costs, the fuel burn for the Rotax 912 engine is relatively high at 8 gallons per hour. However, the reserve cost for the engine is low and unscheduled maintenance costs are also low.

When it comes to insurance, the Black Shape Prime is considered to be on the high side. While only about 25% of the cost is liability insurance, the accident rate for this plane is fairly high. This is likely due to the fact that the training and medical requirements to fly this plane are lower than other high-performance aircraft.

It’s also worth noting that the cost of annuals for the Black Shape Prime is on the high side, but a chunk of that cost is allocated towards repacking the full airframe parachute.

Overall, while the cost of acquiring a Black Shape Prime may be high, the total costs of ownership are not that high for an airplane with its speed and performance. However, it’s important to consider your own needs and preferences before making a purchase.

Comparison with Other Aircrafts

The Black Shape Prime is a unique aircraft that has a fascinating history. It was designed based on the Millennium Master, an all-carbon fiber version of the Vidor ASO X Jewel. The Millennium Master was 10 knots faster and had a smoother airframe due to the carbon fiber construction. The Black Shape Prime is almost identical to the Millennium Master, with minor changes to the exterior and a spruced-up interior.

The Tarragon, another aircraft based on the Millennium Master, was designed by Pellegrin out of Latvia. The Tarragon has a stretched airframe and increased gross weight compared to the Millennium Master. However, it is only available as a build-assist kit and requires you to travel to Latvia for a few weeks to do your portion.

Compared to other composite light sport retracts, the Black Shape Prime is a high-performance aircraft. It cruises at around 148 knots, which is exceptional for a Rotex 912 engine. However, its fuel burn is also high at 8 gallons per hour. The useful load is only 400 pounds, and the baggage compartment is small, located behind the passenger seat’s headrest.

The Black Shape Prime is a brand new, slick airplane that offers about as much practicality as a brand new motorbike. Its total costs are not that high for an airplane that goes this fast, but they are kind of high for a Rotex-powered ultralight. The cost to acquire is pretty high too, but it’s worth it if you want a unique aircraft that is ready to fly.

In conclusion, the Black Shape Prime is a one-of-a-kind aircraft that offers exceptional performance and a unique flying experience. If you’re looking for a brand new, high-performance ultralight, the Black Shape Prime is definitely worth considering.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the story of the Black Shape Prime. It all started with the Vidor ASO X Jewel, a wooden kit plane designed by Giuseppe Vidor. Millennium Aircraft then designed an all-carbon fiber version of the X Jewel, called the Millennium Master, which was later picked up by Black Shape and Pellegrin. The Black Shape Prime is the only one of these planes that you can buy ready to fly today, with a cruise speed of 148 knots from the Rotax 912 engine. However, it does have its drawbacks, with a useful load of only 400 pounds and limited baggage space.

While the upfront cost of the Black Shape Prime may be high, the operating costs are relatively low. However, insurance rates are on the high side and the accident rate for these planes is fairly high, despite the full airframe parachute. The cost of annuals is also relatively high, with a chunk of that cost allocated towards repacking the parachute.

Overall, the Black Shape Prime is a slick and practical airplane that offers a unique flying experience. While there may be other composite light sport retractables out there, some people just want a brand new plane with as much practicality as a brand new motorbike. And for those people, the Black Shape Prime is the perfect choice.