The world's first certified electric aircraft has completed its maiden flight in Switzerland. The two-seater plane has a maximum flight time of 50 minutes.
It reports Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, SBC.
The plane is manufactured by the Slovenian company Pipistrel and is named Velis Electro.
The certification process has spanned several years. In March, EASA – the European Aviation Safety Agency – gave the plane’s electric engine the thumbs up, paving the way for certification of the plane, reports SBC.
EASA has collaborated with several national aviation authorities, including the Swiss FOCA. Previously, only combustion engines were approved for use in smaller aircraft.
The decision to approve the model will also become an important reference point for future certifications of aircraft with lower emissions, SBC further writes.
The Pipistrel Velis Electro belongs to the light sport aircraft category and, according to the manufacturer, has a maximum flight time of 50 minutes, and a "reserve tank" of ten minutes, reports SBC. According to the manufacturer, the plane is primarily intended for pilot training.
Source: di.se
