e-flight journal – link
EASA certifies electric aircraft, first type certification for fully electric plane world-wide
COLOGNE, June 10, 2020 – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced the certification of an electric airplane, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, the first type certification world-wide of a fully electric aircraft and an important milestone in the quest for environmentally sustainable aviation.
Velis Electro in flight
“This is an exciting breakthrough,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “This is the first electric aircraft EASA has certified but it will certainly not be the last, as the aviation industry pursues new technologies to reduce noise and emissions and to improve the sustainability of aviation.”
The Velis Electro is a two-seater aircraft intended primarily for pilot training. Slovenia-based Pipistrel is a leading small aircraft designer and manufacturer, specialised in energy-efficient and affordable high-performance aircraft. The Velis Electro (Model Virus SW 128) joins a product line-up of similar, but conventionally powered, aircraft.
The certification, completed in less than three years, was only possible in that time-frame due to close cooperation between Pipistrel and EASA, with the common goal of ensuring the aircraft met the high standard of safety needed for certification. The project also brought important learnings that will support future certifications of electrically powered engines and aircraft.
The aircraft is powered by the first certified electrical engine, the E-811-268MVLC, certified by EASA for Pipistrel on May 18, 2020.
Link to Pipistrel Velis Electro
Wisk Resumes Flight Testing with Self-Flying Air Taxi
June 10, 2020 – Wisk, the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) company behind the world’s first all-electric, self-flying air taxi, Cora, has resumed flight tests in the U.S. and New Zealand, following a brief pause due to COVID-19. Link to Wisk
Sustainable future with electric fuel cells
eVTOL Whisper at France Air Expo 2019
Already present at AERO 2017 in Germany, the development of this French electric-powered rotorcraft is going on (Link to the article, in French)
e flight Expo, AERO Friedrichshafen 2019
Video introduction (in German) :
simandflight 