Pipistrel Velis Electro

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is a Slovenian light aircraft, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. The aircraft was type certified in June 2020 and intended primarily for the training aircraft role. The design is the first type certified electric aircraft and is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.[1][2][3]

Velis Electro
Role Electric light aircraft
National origin Slovenia
Manufacturer Pipistrel
Introduction 2020
Status In production (2020)
Developed from Pipistrel Virus

Design and development

The aircraft is based on the Pipistrel Virus airframe and features a cantilever high-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration in an enclosed cabin accessed via doors. It has fixed tricycle landing gear and a single electric motor in tractor configuration.[1][2][3]

The design received its European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certificate for day, visual flight rules operations, on 10 June 2020, after a certification period of just under three years. The short time frame for the first certification of an electric aircraft was attributed by EASA to "close co-operation" between the manufacturer and the agency. The design was approved as a variant of the Virus on the same type certificate and is officially designated by EASA as the Virus SW 128 (Velis Electro).[1][2][3]

The airframe is predominantly made from composite materials. Its 10.71 m (35.1 ft) span wing, has an area of 95 m2 (1,020 sq ft), an aspect ratio of 12.03:1, an IMD 029-b airfoil and mounts three-position flaps, with settings of 0°, 8° and 19°.[3][4][5]

The sole approved powerplant is the liquid-cooled Pipistrel E-811 electric motor, rated at 57.6 kW (77 hp) at 2500 rpm for 90 seconds for take-off and 49.2 kW (66 hp) at 2350 rpm for continuous operation. The motor was developed in conjunction with the Slovenian engineering companies Emrax and Emsiso and is powered by two liquid-cooled Pipistrel PB345V124E-L 345 VDC, 11.0kWh lithium batteries connected in parallel. One battery is mounted in the nose and one behind the cabin for balance. The radiator is mounted in the nose, which necessitates a different engine cowling that the Virus design. It has a built-in continuous health-monitoring system. The E-811 is the first certified electric aircraft motor and was certified by EASA on 18 May 2020.[1][2][3][5]

The Velis Electro has a maximum noise level of 60 dBa.[5]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 428 kg (944 lb) and a gross weight of 600 kg (1,300 lb), giving a useful load of 172 kg (379 lb).[1][2]

The aircraft is in production and the manufacturer has indicated that they intend to deliver 31 examples during 2020.[1]

Specifications

Data from AVweb,[1] Flight Global,[2] EASA[3] and manufacturer[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 6.47 m (21 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.71 m (35 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 9.51 m2 (102.4 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 12.03:1
  • Empty weight: 428 kg (944 lb)
  • Gross weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pipistrel E-811-268MVLC electric aircraft engine, powered by two liquid-cooled Pipistrel PB345V124E-L 345 VDC, 11.0kWh lithium batteries in parallel, 57.6 kW (77.2 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Pipistrel P-812/164-F3A, fixed pitch, composite, 1.640 m (5 ft 5 in) diameter

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 181 km/h (113 mph, 98 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (100 mph, 90 kn)
  • Stall speed: 83 km/h (52 mph, 45 kn) flaps down
  • Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (124 mph, 108 kn)
  • Endurance: 50 minutes, plus VFR reserves
  • Service ceiling: 3,700 m (12,000 ft)
  • g limits: +4/-2
  • Maximum glide ratio: 15:1
  • Rate of climb: 3.3 m/s (650 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 63.1 kg/m2 (12.9 lb/sq ft)

Avionics

  • 144 mm (5.7 inch) LCD EPSI 570C cockpit display

References
  1. O'Connor, Kate (10 June 2020). "Pipistrel Earns First Electric Aircraft Type Certificate". AVweb. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. Sarsfield, Kate (10 June 2020). "Pipistrel Velis Electro earns first all-electric aircraft type certification". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. European Aviation Safety Agency (10 June 2020). "EASA Aircraft Type Certificate Data Sheet - No. EASA.A.573" (PDF). Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. Lednicer, David (2012). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. Pipistrel. "Velis Electro". pipistrel-aircraft.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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