Florida Tech has purchased a Velis Electro from Slovenian company Pipistrel. The purchase makes the school the first U.S. college to own and fly an electric airplane.
Florida Tech Makes History With Pipistrel Velis Electro Purchase
![The Velis Electro, a light sport aircraft from Slovenian company Pipistrel, was introduced in 2020. [Courtesy: Pipistrel]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Output-7389.jpg)
Key Takeaways:
- Florida Tech is the first U.S. college to acquire and fly an electric airplane, Pipistrel's Velis Electro, marking the aircraft's inaugural flights in the U.S. under an experimental category.
- The Velis Electro will be integrated into the flight test engineering program to prepare students for contemporary designs and will provide critical flight data to the FAA for developing electric aircraft certification and training guidelines.
- As the initial U.S. operator, Florida Tech's research findings will inform Pipistrel on design evolution and assist federal regulators in shaping future electric aviation standards.
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