Pipistrel Velis Electro

Overview

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is a two-seat, single-motor electric trainer built by Pipistrel (now part of Textron eAviation) of Slovenia. On 10 June 2020 it became the world’s first fully electric aircraft to receive a full EASA type certificate (EASA.A.573), and as of 2026 it remains the only type-certified electric aircraft in service. It is built on the certified Virus SW 128 airframe, swapping the Rotax piston engine for the 57.6 kW Pipistrel E-811 motor and a 20 kWh liquid-cooled battery system.

The aircraft is purpose-built for flight training, particularly the circuit work and repeated takeoffs and landings that dominate early instruction. It is quiet, produces no local emissions, and costs only a few dollars in electricity per flight. Endurance is around 50 minutes plus VFR reserve, so it suits local training sorties rather than cross-country flying. Since certification it has added validations from the UK CAA (2022), the FAA light-sport route (2024), Transport Canada (2025), and South Korea (2026).

Key Features for GA Buyers

• Certified, not experimental. The only fully electric aircraft with a full type certificate, so it operates and is maintained under standard certified rules rather than experimental limitations.
• Very low energy cost. A typical training flight draws only a few kWh; operators report roughly a dollar of electricity per short sortie, a fraction of avgas cost.
• Quiet and zero local emissions. A low noise footprint eases operations at noise-sensitive fields and reduces community friction for busy flight schools.
• Simple powerplant. The electric motor has far fewer moving parts than a piston engine, with no mixture, carb heat, or oil management for the student to learn.
• Proven training airframe. Shares the well-understood Virus SW composite airframe, with benign handling suited to ab-initio students.

Trade-offs

• Short endurance. Roughly 50 minutes plus reserve limits it to circuits and short local flights; it is not a cross-country machine.
• Recharge downtime. A full charge takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, so high-utilization schools typically need spare battery packs or multiple airframes to maintain dispatch.
• Battery replacement cost. The battery system is a major consumable; replacement runs over $20,000, and long-term cycle life is still being established by the manufacturer.
• Scheduled motor service. The powertrain requires periodic service (bearing and seal work) that can involve returning components to the manufacturer.
• Limited payload and conditions. Two seats, day VFR only, with a modest useful load that tightens further with two adults aboard.

See Also

• Pipistrel Virus SW – the piston Rotax sibling on the same airframe, with far greater range. Compare
• Cessna 162 Skycatcher – a dedicated two-seat light-sport trainer. Compare
• Cessna 152 – the classic piston primary trainer the Velis competes with on training cost. Compare
• Flight Design CT – a popular composite LSA two-seater. Compare