12 October 2021
Fifty fully electric Pipistrel Velis two-seat training aircraft are to be supplied to British flying schools.
A new company called Green Airside is behind the ambitious programme and has already ordered the first ten aircraft.
The Pipistrel Velis Electra is the first and so far only fully certified electric aircraft. It completed type certification with EASA in 2019, which was carried through with the UK CAA post-Brexit and the UK leaving EASA.
Sergei Gratchev of Green Airside said, “The 50 Velis programme for the British flying school is now a reality! We have closed the deal with the investors and completing the order of the first ten aircraft this week.
“The programme is aimed to make the use of the world’s first and currently only certified fully electric aircraft an affordable exercise for an average flying school.”
Cockpit of the Velis
Green Airside is working with UK Pipistrel agent, Fly About Aviation, based at Damyns Hall airfield, and V1 Investment Fund.
The Velis programme includes the aircraft, compatible electric charging solutions, VR flight simulators and on-line training courses specially designed for the aircraft and its supporting infrastructure.
The Pipistrel Velis Electro has the same list price as the Rotax engine powered Pipistrel VSW121, also EASA type certified, at €175,000 plus taxes.
Pipistrel Velis Electro needs recharging between flights
Each Velis aircraft is supplied with one M-20 charging box included in the price, and an additional charging box costs €14,500. The Sky Charger system which can plug in two aircraft simultaneously costs €36,000 and has to be permanently installed by qualified electricians.
The Velis Electro is designed for circuit training with a flight endurance of 50 minutes with a VFR reserve. If you plan to fly to another airfield, that airfield must have a charger available to recharge after you land, says Fly About Aviation.
1 comment
According to one report, the chargers will need to be supplied by a three-phase electrical supply. If your airfield hasn’t got this (although many will do, for the machinery and equipment already in use), it may be a shock (!) to discover from your electricity supplier 1) how much it would cost to do this, and 2) how long you may have to wait to get it done. I must stress that as a live (!) though retired pilot I claim to be a neutral (!) party, and perhaps some people enthusiastic about going ahead quickly may get stuck in the trenches of earth(!)-works. Are there any restrictions as to when the aircraft may NOT be charged outside? When TS/CB’s are around? My car cannot.