Pipistrel Velis Electro May Herald New Era of Flight Training

Electric aircraft boasts EASA certification and recent FAA exemption.

Jonathan Welsh

Monday, September 07, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Lower fuel reserve rules let the Velis maximize limited battery endurance. [Credit: Frank Galella/Elemental]

Key Takeaways:

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is a pioneering electric aircraft that achieved the first EASA type certification for an electric plane in 2020.
A significant FAA exemption in March 2024 now allows the Velis Electro to be used for flight training in the U.S., enabling students and instructors to log flight hours.
Designed as a trainer, the Velis Electro offers benefits such as lower operating costs, significantly quieter operation (60 dB), and simpler controls compared to traditional piston-engine aircraft.
Despite current limitations in flight endurance (~50 minutes), the Velis Electro marks a crucial step in the mainstream adoption of electric aviation, particularly for flight schools, with future potential for broader general aviation use.

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Around 2007, when I was heavily into flying radio-controlled aerobatic model airplanes, I outfitted a roughly 20-percent-scale Zlin Z-526 Akrobat model with an electric motor and six-cell lithium-polymer battery pack.

I figured the newer batteries, unlike the nickel-cadmium cells I had experimented with for years, would provide enough power and endurance to complete the demanding aerobatic sequences typically featured at contests. I was also looking for a level of performance that would impress my casual Sunday sport-flyer friends, who were not yet convinced of electric power’s potential. Switching to electric motors from the single-cylinder two-stroke and four-stroke internal combustion engines we had used for decades was a big step among modelers. We used electric power for the occasional self-launching glider but little else.