Aircraft
Pilot Report: Flying the Pipistrel Velis Electro
A little electric trainer with big potential
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro is becoming a popular choice as a low-cost and sustainable training airplane.

On my way to Brennand Airport (79C) in Wisconsin on a hot summer day, I found myself wondering what it would be like to fly Pipistrel’s all-electric Velis Electro. I knew a little about the history and development of the aircraft, but not what it actually felt like to fly it. I suspected it might be more like its parent gliders than my more ponderous Cessna 172 experiences.

EASA approved the Velis Electro on June 10, 2020, making it the world’s first fully electric aircraft to receive type certification. In March 2024, the FAA granted the Velis Electro a light-sport aircraft airworthiness exemption for the U.S., making the aircraft a viable training option for schools. By that time, the 100th Velis Electro was on the production line.