Velis Electro
Pipistrel · Slovenia · first flew 2020 · light aircraft
The Pipistrel Velis Electro is the world's first type-certified electric aeroplane, a two-seat trainer powered entirely by batteries. EASA approved it in June 2020, a genuine milestone in aviation history.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × electric, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.47 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Fully electric — the first certified electric aeroplane
- Near-silent flight with a small three-blade nose propeller and no exhaust
- Sleek composite high-wing two-seater with a T-tail and long slender wings
It looks like a sleek modern microlight — high tapered wing, T-tail, fixed tricycle gear — but listen: there is almost no engine noise, only propeller swish. The stubby cowling has cooling inlets yet no exhaust pipes.
Specifications
- The Velis Electro has a length of 6.47 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.71 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Slovenia's Pipistrel evolved the Velis from its Virus SW motor-glider line via the Alpha Electro trainer, pairing the airframe with its own certified 57.6 kW E-811 electric motor. Certification in 2020 beat every other electric-aircraft programme to the mark, and Textron acquired Pipistrel in 2022.
Variants
The Velis Electro is the battery-electric model, sold alongside the Rotax-powered Velis Club and Explorer versions of the same airframe. Batteries in the nose and behind the cabin give roughly 50 minutes of flying plus reserve.
Where you'll see it
Flight schools across Europe use it for low-cost, low-noise circuit training, and UK examples have flown with electric-flight pioneers and trial operators exploring zero-emission training. It has set electric records including altitude and multi-country tour flights.
Related aircraft
- Pipistrel Panthera
- Pipistrel Alpha Trainer
- Pipistrel Taurus
- Pipistrel Virus
- Beechcraft King Air 260
- Gulfstream G700
- VoltAero Cassio
- Beechcraft Denali
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