Plane & Pilot argued the 2020 Plane of the Year Award to Pipistrel with the achievements of development, certification and production of Velis Electro, the world’s first certificated electric airplane.

The Velis Electro is world’s first electric powered airplane to receive a Type Certificate (EASA.A.573 TCDS). The two-seater, intended primarily for pilot training, is a game-changing aircraft in terms of technological innovations and cost-efficiency.

The aircraft can be operated commercially and is fully approved for pilot training.

Due to its low noise emission Featuring noise levels of only 60 dBa , Velis Electro can bring flight training much closer to urban areas without adversely affecting communities’ quality of life.

Its revolutionary powertrain is entirely liquid-cooled, including the batteries, and demonstrated the ability to withstand faults, battery thermal runaway events, and crash loads as part of the certification process. The Velis Electro can operate in cold, hot and rainy conditions.

Ivo Boscarol, the General Manager of the Pipistrel group, said: 

“I am thrilled that one of the most reputable aviation media, the Plane&Pilot Magazine, recognized the milestone in aviation which Pipistrel achieved with our Velis Electro, and decorated it with the “Plane of the year 2020” award. The first aircraft with a piston engine was type-certified in 1927.  The first aircraft with a jet engine was type-certified in 1953… and after that, until 2020 when the first aircraft was type-certified with an electric engine, there were no major milestones in aviation propulsion. 
I am overjoyed that media understand the significance of this event. This award not just gives a great international recognition to Pipistrel, but also enhances the credibility of Plane&Pilot – because it was the first magazine to recognize this achievement, and with the highest award, no less!“

Velis Electro is a full-electric derivative of the proven Virus SW 121, which is already type certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (TC No EASA.A.573). It is equipped with a Pipistrel type certified electric engine E-811-268MVLC (TC No. EASA.E.234), developed with partners EMRAX and EMSISO, and Pipistrel’s three-bladed composite fixed pitch propeller P-812-164-F3A.

The 57.6kW liquid cooled electric engine provides power to the aircraft.