FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Aber die Solar Impulse…

von Betrand Picard ist doch viel höher, weiter etc geflogen. Wie so ist dann ein Flug von den Alpen bis ans Meer ein Rekord?

Ganz einfach – Das Solar Impulse Projekt war eine grossartiges Technologie-Demonstration, mit einem Flugzeug, da extra dafür gebaut wurde (als „Experimental“ eingetragen war) und auch nur für diese Mission ein „permit to fly“, hatte. Es waren sogar nur zwei speziell ausgebildete Piloten zugelassen und das gesamte Unterfangen war ein Multi-Millionen Projekt.

Wir dagegen fliegen mit dem ersten, EASA zertifizierten, Light Sports Aircraft, sogar noch mit einem Passagier. Dieses Flugzeug kann jeder kaufen, es ist Serien-Produkt, welches wir auch in keiner Weise auf den Rekord hin modifizieren. Wir wollen beweisen, dass die Elektrofliegerei alltagstauglich und als Serienprodukt verfügbar ist. Naja, und dabei natürlich auch noch eine Menge Spass haben und nette Leute aus der e-Mobility Blase treffen.

Technische Daten der Pipistrel Velis Electro

  • Leistung
    Maximale Leistung: 57.6 kW
    Steigflug: 40kW
    Reiseflug: 20kW
  • Propeller: Festpropeller, 1,64 m Durchmesser, Rekuperationsoptimiert
  • Dimensionen
    Spannweite: 10,71 m
    Länge: 6,47 m
    Höhe: 1,90 m
    Streckung: 12,04
  • Gewicht
    Leergewicht inkl. Batterien: 428 kg
    MTOW: 600 kg
    Zuladung: 172 kg
  • Flugleistungen
    Mindestgeschwindigkeit mit Klappen: 45 KCAS (83km/h)
    Reisegeschwindigkeit: 90 KCAS (166km/h)
    Höchstgeschwindigkeit im Horizontalflug: 98 KCAS (181km/h)
    Höchstgeschwindigkeit: 108 KCAS (200km/h)
    Steigrate: 3,3 m/s
    Gleitzahl: 15 bei 64 KIAS (120km/h)
    Startrollstrecke Grass/Asphalt: 246/241 m
    Dienstgipfelhöhe: 3660 m
  • Endurance
    Flugzeit: bis zu 50 Minuten plus VFR-Reserve
  • Akku: 24,8 kWh
  • Reichweite ca 115km bei 75 KCAS (140km/h)
  • G-Limits +4/-2 g

Wie stellt man einen Weltrekord auf

Das ist ganz einfach, aber im Detail doch etwas aufwändiger: Registrier dich auf GuinnessWorldRecords.de und lade Dir die Anleitung , wie man einen Weltrekord aufstellt, runter. Denk Dir was verrücktes aus und sende deinen Vorschlag ein. Nach einer intensiven Prüfung bekommst du eine Rückmeldung, ob Dein Rekord Versuch akzeptiert wird, und was Du alles brauchst, um den Rekord zu dokumentieren. Wenn Du dich sponsoren lassen willst oder den Rekord im Rahmen eines Produktlaunches machst, wird es schnell sehr teuer, GWR ist eine Firma, die von den Lizenzen lebt…

Woher kennt ihr euch eigentlich?

Malik und Morell waren beide mehrfach bei CLEANELECTRIC zu Gast und Malik gehört nun zum CE Kernteam. Dann hatte Morell die Bottle-Block.com Idee und Malik war begeistert und hat das Business mit ihm gemeinsam entwickelt.

Beim nächsten Projekt von Morell hat er Malik gefragt ob er wieder dabei ist – er hat zugesagt und Tom mitgebracht.

Dann haben Tom und Malik beim letzten Besuch bei Morell in der Schweiz getwittert, den Tweet hat Tobi gelesen, Tobi hat Morell eine eMail geschrieben, die beiden haben telefoniert und die verrückte Idee mit dem Weltrekord entwickelt. Jetzt brauchten wir noch ein Elektro-Flugzeug und jemand mit viel Flugerfahrung und haben Marco on Board geholt. Marco fand das auch ausreichend verrückt und ZACK steckten wir kopfüber in der Planung

Ich will unbedingt mal elektrisch fliegen, was muss ich machen?

Rundflüge sind jederzeit von Schänis aus möglich. Ein Rundflug dauert ca 30 min und kostet 180 CHF. Kontaktiert doch Marco via seiner Website Elektroflugschule.ch

Weitere FAQs direkt beim Hersteller Pipistrel:

GENERAL

Where does the Velis name come from?

Velis comes from the ablative case of the Latin word for “sail” (velum, veli) and translates into “moving with sails (alone)”. Its name reminds you of sailing boats (and sailplanes), which, quiet and green, have cruised the seas of the world for centuries. Velis Electro is then the forerunner shaping a new era of aviation.

How is the Velis Electro different from the Alpha Electro?

  • The Velis Electro features an entirely liquid-cooled powertrain, including the batteries, which are also of next-generation technology. Thanks to these improvements, the lifespan of the powertrain is double than that of the previous generation of electric aircraft. The motor and the power controller are also improved for robust operation in hot and cold climates.
  • The Velis Electro has a 50 kg higher MTOW than the Alpha Electro.
  • In the cockpit, the Velis Electro includes an embedded data-logger, and a tactile and aural AOA-based stall warning.
  • The aircraft has heavy-duty landing gear and wheel brakes, 15% more energy onboard and its systems have shown resistance to HIRF (direct and indirect effects).
  • And finally, the Velis Electro is EASA type certified, which opens the door for commercial operation.

What is the price of a Velis Electro?

For pricing and additional options please contact sales@pipistrel-aircraft.com


TYPE CERTIFICATION

What is a Type Certificate? What is the difference with previous electric aeroplanes?

By issuing a Type Certificate, EASA confirms that the aircraft, intended for serial production, is in compliance with applicable airworthiness requirements established by the European Union air law. It allows the aircraft to be exploited commercially.

Previous electric aircraft have obtained different levels of approvals from national authorities, however, none has been able to demonstrate levels of safety equivalent to standard category aeroplanes or was able to operate commercially.

Will it be certified by the FAA or other non-EASA member states?

We are working to validate the TC for the Velis Electro in other countries as we did with the Virus SW 121. We are also working to create certification paths with the FAA, but at this moment it’s difficult to predict when it will happen. Of course, we will announce it on our website, so please follow our online releases.

Is the Velis Eletro approved for intentional spins?

Pipistrel has other aircraft from the Velis Training System designed for intentional spin and UPRT training.


BATTERY AND CHARGING

Are the batteries prone to fire?

In the scope of the certification process, the batteries went through an extensive series of tests that thoroughly evaluated the integrity of the battery packs and their ability to resist thermal runaway. Special safety features are built into the design to achieve levels of safety according to the stringent DO-311A requirements. The batteries have demonstrated to be crashworthy, resistant to thermal runaway and fault-tolerant.

How fast does the battery charge?

The charging logic was tuned in a compromise between charging time, ambient temperature robustness and battery system lifetime. A normal charging cycle from 35% to 95% SOC (state-of-charge) takes up to 1 hour and 20 minutes. A full charge from 30% to 100%, depending on ambient temperatures and age of battery takes up to 2 hours. Operational experience and technical improvements will allow us to activate charging logic profiles for shorter charging times.

Is there the possibility of plug in/out swappable batteries for quick turn arounds in a flying school?

To maintain superior longevity of the battery, a breakthrough design employing liquid cooling for the batteries was employed, which precludes quick battery swapping. Consider that each of the two batteries weighs approximately 70 kg; quick swapping would necessitate additional ground handling equipment and introduce potential safety hazard associated with battery dropping on the floor. Pipistrel recommends using more Velis Electro aircraft in your fleet to enable quick turn-around times for students and instructors when using the superior SkyCharge line of Pipistrel in-house developed aircraft battery chargers.

What power supply output is required to charge the batteries?

While a single-phase 240 VAC regular wall socket can be used for overnight charges, Pipistrel recommends a three-phase 380 VAC connection, in order to enable quick charging.

What type of connector does the Velis Electro use? Is the charger compatible with electric cars?

The Velis Electro has a DC GB/T 20234 connector. Even if this standard connector is also used on cars, Velis Electro charging is allowed only with a Pipistrel portable charger or a Pipistrel Sky ChargeTM charger. Charging electric aircraft has its specifics which not only require addressing the technical feasibility of electrical power transfer but also matters related to cybersecurity and enhanced levels of safety when compared to automotive-class charging. Pipistrel has recently announced a partnership with GreenMotion, a leader in the vehicle charging industry, to work towards enabling dual-use chargers.


PERFORMANCE

What is the flight endurance of the Velis Electro?

The endurance was designed to cover for typical flight school utilisation for local flying (50 minutes plus reserve) and is a compromise between performance, environmental robustness (flying in hot, flying in cold, charging in hot, charging in cold) and battery system lifetime.

What is the range?

The Velis Electro is designed for local flights to work alongside other aircraft of the Velis Training System, therefore A to B flights are not part of the typical mission. Endurance for training sorties is, therefore, the appropriate parameter to quote.

What is the lifespan of the powertrain components, including batteries?

The TBO (time between overhaul) of the motor is 2000 hours. The initial limitation imposed on the batteries is 500 hours. Pipistrel expects to increase the TBO of the batteries as additional testing and operational experience is accumulated.


ENVIRONMENT

Is the Velis Electro quiet?

Featuring noise levels of only 60 dBa, the Velis Electro is significantly quieter than other aeroplanes both inside and on the outside. This, together with the fact that it produces no combustion gases at all, makes it one of the least polluting aeroplanes.

Can I fly it in cold weather?

Absolutely. Even if the batteries endurance is affected by cold weather, the engine performance is not altered.

Can I fly it in heavy rain?

The Velis Electro is intended for VFR-day operation and has been tested flying in the rain. The rain itself does not present a hazard to the electrical powerplant.

Can the Velis Electro be charged with solar, wind or battery energy?

The charger requires a connection to a single-phase or, ideally, to a three-phase wall socket. Whether the electrical power comes straight from the grid or from other sources (solar, wall-mounted batteries, wind, etc), this does not depend on Pipistrel and should be consulted with the local electrical service provider.


PILOTS AND MAINTENANCE

How does a pilot know all is OK with the aeroplane?

The 5.7 inch LCD EPSI 570C cockpit display is the main source of information to the pilot about the operational state of the electric propulsion system in the aircraft, using intuitive graphics to display all relevant parameters. Enhanced situational awareness is provided by the Crew Alerting System (CAS) and an Annunciator panel.

What pilot licence is needed to fly the Velis Electro?

Velis Electro can be operated by LAPL or PPL holders and instructors following a quick difference training course.

What part of the pilot training can be done on a Velis Electro?

The Velis Electro is ideal to train student pilots towards their LAPL and PPL licences. It is optimized for local flights around the aerodrome, i.e. take-off and landing sorties. The EASA exemption for pilot licencing and training permits the Velis Electro to be utilised in flight training environments and assuring transitions of pilots to and from Velis Electro even before they have obtained a pilot licence.

Does it require any specific maintenance? Do mechanics need additional training?

The Velis Electro is simple to maintain. The powertrain has a much lower number of moving parts and the time between overhaul/replacement of the motor is much longer than that of a piston engine. Batteries are replaceable as an LRU (Line Replaceable Unit), without special skills required related to high voltage or electric powertrains. EASA’s exemption, which was coordinated between French, Swiss, Slovenian CAA’s and Pipistrel, sets forth requirements for Part-66 licenced mechanics, which include a difference training course specific to Velis Electro. Battery overhauls will be initially handled by Pipistrel alone.

Who can perform the annual inspection for renewal of ARC?

Annual inspection for ARC (Airworthiness Review Certificate) renewal can be performed by any National Aviation Authority (NAA) or Part-145 organisation with this privilege, with a Part-66 mechanic that has received the type-specific training at Pipistrel.


ABOUT PIPISTREL AND OTHER QUESTIONS

What is the Velis Training System?

It is a line of products forming an integrated flight training solution, conceived especially for flight schools, included but not limited to Pipistrel Academy, VR Simulators and several aircraft options optimised for pilot training. More details on this will be unveiled soon.

What are the other electric aircraft Pipistrel developed so far?

In chronological order: Taurus Electro, Taurus G4, Taurus Electro G2, WATTsUP, Alpha Electro, HY4, Panthera Hybrid, Velis Electro, Alpha Electro LC.

What are miniliners/microfeeders?

It is a new approach in the aerial mobility market that will be enabled by advanced propulsion technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, electricity, etc. A microfeeder is a zero-emission commuter-class aeroplane, capable of connecting smaller airports close to communities with larger hubs, whereas a miniliner connects smaller airports between themselves, without compromising the quality of life due to low noise and zero-emission operation, but dramatically shortening travel times inside the European Union. Pipistrel is collaborating with renowned European universities in the development of a disruptive 19‑seater. We will provide more details of this in the future. More information about this project is available here: https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/unifier19-2/ and https://www.unifier19.eu/


Quelle: https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/aircraft/electric-flight/velis-electro-easa-tc/#tab-id-3