Pipistrel Advances Hydrogen, Hybrid, and Electric Power Options

Textron eAviation subsidiary has long been deep into propulsion R&D

Pipistrel Velis Electro training aircraft — Pipistrel's all-electric Velis Electro aircraft is being deployed in flying schools on both sides of the Atlantic.

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

January 6, 2025

When Textron acquired family-owned Slovenian sustainable aviation pioneer Pipistrel in 2022, the U.S. group significantly expanded involvement in new propulsion technology and laid the foundation for its eAviation business unit. Pipistrel’s enterprising engineering team is now contributing to all sorts of projects, ranging from Textron’s in-development Nexus eVTOL aircraft to European Union-backed work to develop a megawatt-class electric propulsion system for new airliners.

In September 2023, Pipistrel provided a repurposed example of its Taurus 4G aircraft to serve as a flying testbed for a liquid hydrogen powertrain developed by German start-up H2Fly. The flight in Slovenia was part of the EU’s Project Heaven work to assess the feasibility of hydrogen-powered airlines in achieving a quantum leap towards decarbonizing air transport. Joby, which owns H2Fly, has indicated that it may integrate a hydrogen-electric powertrain into its four-passenger eVTOL vehicle at some later date.

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