Blackshape Aircraft

What Blackshape Aircraft does

Blackshape Aircraft (legal entity: Blackshape S.p.A.) is an Italian aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Monopoli (Bari), founded in 2010 and operating as a subsidiary of Angel Holding, a high-tech Italian conglomerate that also owns MERMEC Group. The company designs and produces premium ultralight and certified aircraft built around carbon fiber airframes, with in-house capabilities spanning stress analysis, system integration, qualification, and certification. Its commercial product portfolio centers on two aircraft families: the Prime series (ultralight aircraft for recreational and training use, including the Prime Veloce performance variant and the newly introduced Prime Xplorer variant) and the Gabriél (a certified aircraft positioned for advanced general aviation). The company is also developing the ePrime, a hybrid-electric two-seat aircraft designed for 3–5 hour missions with an uncrewed surveillance variant planned alongside it.

Blackshape serves three operational segments: Leisure Aviation (recreational pilots and travelers), Flight Schools (pilot training operators), and Special Missions / Defense (special operations and surveillance). The company distributes aircraft globally through a dealer network — BravoFox in the United States and WeFly covering the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) — supplemented by direct sales for enterprise and special-mission buyers. Revenue is generated through one-time aircraft sales; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The business relies heavily on airshow-driven demand generation, with active participation in events including EAA AirVenture, Aero Friedrichshafen, Sun 'n Fun, IFTE, World Defense Show, and France Air Expo.

The company's strategic posture in 2025–2026 is outwardly expansionary: it has entered the Saudi Arabian market through an MoU with Al-Qahtani Group (signed November 2025 at the Italy–Saudi Arabia Business Forum), re-established its DACH dealership with WeFly, participated in IFTE Istanbul to access the Turkish flight-training market, and is positioning the hybrid-electric ePrime and uncrewed variant as forward-looking growth platforms for both sustainable aviation and defense/surveillance verticals.

Name

Blackshape Aircraft

Legal name

BLACKSHAPE S.P.A.

Website

https://blackshapeaircraft.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Blackshape Aircraft is an Italian manufacturer of premium ultralight and certified carbon-fiber aircraft (Prime and Gabriél lines), serving leisure pilots, flight schools, and special-mission/defense buyers via a global dealer network under parent Angel Holding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts (3724), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE), Doors, Hatches, Canopies & Access Panels (IMABAEAF), Aerospace Fuel System Components (Tanks, Lines, Valves) (IMABANAJ), Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI)

Keywords

• Ultralight aircraft manufacturing
• Carbon fiber aircraft design
• Certified general aviation
• Hybrid electric propulsion
• Flight training aircraft

Headquarters

HQ city

Monopoli

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Sales: Sale of ultralight and certified aircraft including Prime and Gabriél models

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Blackshape designs and manufactures premium carbon fiber ultralight and certified general aviation aircraft, with its portfolio centered on the Prime (ultralight two-seat) and Gabrièl (certified) families and their variants. The company leverages expertise in stress analysis, system integration, qualification, and certification to serve three operational segments: leisure flying, flight school and training, and special missions/defense. It is also developing hybrid-electric (ePrime) and uncrewed surveillance aircraft variants.

Product overview

Blackshape Aircraft is an Italian aircraft manufacturer specializing in premium ultralight and certified aircraft. The product portfolio centers on two core aircraft families: the Prime series (ultralight aircraft designed for pure performance) and the Gabriél (certified aircraft for advanced general aviation performance). The company also operates across three operational segments: Leisure solutions for recreational flying, Flight School & Training for pilot education emphasizing safety and technology, and Special Missions for precision operations. The company is developing the ePrime, a hybrid-electric two-seat aircraft targeting sustainable aviation, with an uncrewed variant planned for surveillance applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Al-Qahtani GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Blackshape (under Angel Holding) signed an aviation MoU with Al-Qahtani Group at the Italy-Saudi Arabia Business Forum in Riyadh. This partnership establishes Blackshape's presence in the Saudi Arabian aviation market for potential collaboration in aviation sector.
• BravoFoxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 July 2025BravoFox is the US dealer for Blackshape Aircraft, showcasing Gabriel, Prime Veloce, and new Prime Xplorer at EAA AirVenture 2025 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
• WeFlycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 May 2025Strategic dealership renewal with WeFly reinforcing Blackshape's presence in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). WeFly serves as the exclusive dealer for Blackshape aircraft in this key European market.
• Angel HoldingcoreOthersBlackshape S.p.A. is part of Angel Holding, a high-tech Italian group that also includes MERMEC Group. This corporate parent structure provides strategic alignment and shared resources across the aviation and rail technology sectors.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cirrus Aircraft: US-based manufacturer of premium composite single-engine piston aircraft (SR20/SR22). Directly comparable to Blackshape as a high-end composite light aircraft maker targeting recreational and owner-flier buyers, though operating at materially greater scale.
• Diamond Aircraft: Austrian-Canadian manufacturer of all-composite fixed-wing aircraft including the DA20, DA40, and DA42. Closely comparable to Blackshape on composite construction, European manufacturing base, and training/utility segment positioning.
• Tecnam: Italian light aircraft manufacturer producing the P92, P2002, P2006, and P2012. Directly comparable as a fellow Italian-made composite light aircraft OEM with a strong flight-school and LSA product line competing head-to-head with Blackshape's Prime and Gabriél.
• Pipistrel (Textron Aviation): Slovenian ultralight and electric aircraft pioneer (Velis Electro, Panthera), now part of Textron. Comparable to Blackshape in LSA/ultralight category and a direct competitor on the hybrid-electric ePrime roadmap with deeper capital post-Textron acquisition.
• Flight Design GmbH: German manufacturer of the CTLS and F2 light sport aircraft. Direct peer in the European LSA/ultralight category with overlapping flight-school and recreational customer segments.

Emerging players

• Bye Aerospace: US-based developer of the all-electric eFlyer 2 and eFlyer 4. Comparable as an emerging light-aircraft manufacturer pursuing electric propulsion - directly relevant to Blackshape's ePrime program and hybrid-electric roadmap.

Regional players

• AutoGyro GmbH: German manufacturer of gyroplanes and light aircraft. Comparable as a European premium-positioned recreational aircraft OEM, though focused on rotorcraft rather than fixed-wing, sharing the DACH dealer channel dynamics.
• Jabiru Aircraft: Australian manufacturer of light sport and ultralight composite aircraft. Comparable on airframe category (LSA/ultralight composite) and recreational/training use cases, though primarily serving the Australian and Asian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Textron Aviation: US-based broad aviation OEM (Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel). Comparable as an incumbent general aviation manufacturer whose product range overlaps Blackshape's certified Gabriél and whose ownership of Pipistrel directly competes with the ePrime hybrid-electric program.

Others

• Safran Aerospace (aircraft systems): Major Tier-1 supplier of aircraft propulsion and systems. Relevant as a potential supplier/competitor in hybrid-electric propulsion architecture (e.g., ENGINeUS engines) that Blackshape's ePrime program would rely on or compete against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackshape-srl
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackshapeaircraft
• Xx.com/blackshapeair
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackshapeaircraft

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackshape Aircraft