This is the time! We've had enough time to perfect the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and have hit the wall for efficiency at the expense of more and more complicated computer controls. The simplicity of electric propulsion is worth the efforts of more and more efficient batteries. The revolution is just beginning and I welcome it.
Biofuels is the future of aviation. As much as batteries evolve, even graphene batteries remain very heavy and we know that weight is one of the most important things in an aircraft
@@optimusprimezombie1782 You seem to make the assumption that biofuels will have the same energy density pr kg of mass as Jet Engines. But Biodiesel has a lower energy density than jetfuel, petrol and normal Petrodiesel. Also, biodiesel is usually used with a Petrodiesel blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% Petrodiesel. So it's still problematic considering the environment. Electric airplanes and power density in battery cells has a lot of improvements still available to them, and I think that electric airplanes is indeed the future.. if not, it will be hydrogen planes. In my opinion.
We have been developing the electric motor and battery technology for longer than the internal combustion engine. This is not new frontier technology. Absent breakthroughs that we do not even see in the lab, what we have today is very much what we will have twenty years from now.
Video starts: social distancing conversation. Next scene: sitting shoulder to shoulder in a tiny airplane. Love the video, thanks for showing us this beautiful plane!
Marc was very generous to showcase his Pipistrel for your channel & right seat with you. this is the first look that many of us got of this plane & it is very interesting. I’d love to fly one soon & experience what E Aviation offers.
@@ASWISSPILOT that's a very good price, I was expecting more! Do you know what's the maximum distance you can fly it? Could you do a flight between two cities that are 150 km apart with this plane? Thanks!
@@rynovlad3112 Thx for your comment! I think it would theoretically be possible, but you would arrive with less than the remaining legal minimum reserve... For now it‘s more a training aircraft for local flights in the vicinity of the airport ;)
Lots of wing area to incorporate high power solar cells to help with recovery of power or at least assist with powering the onboard systems to increase flight time. Not to mention lots of wing volume for additional or emergancy battery packs to be installed..
It's a limited beginning, but it's a beginning. Remember the Wright Brothers' first flights? This would be good not only for training, but a quick weekend hop any time you want, without all the fuel and engine preflights and maintenance and expenses. It has limited use, perfect for a limited market.
Great video and a very honest representation of the aircraft. I have shared this video on our social media platforms. Congratulations again on a great review
We're a long way from these replacing 172s even, but yes eventually this will be the future. I will definitely not be a first adopter though, it's a new technology after all.
Since I can’t afford both the plane nor MSFS, I’m still will wait for plane to appear in MSFS. So I will get MY chance to fly this thing by reading comment section below MSFS streams...
Seems as good offer for flight training only, TO - pattern - land - charge... repeat all day. For that short range aircraft there is no other sectors to use. Limited pattern holding capacity - only small (private ) airports.
I just noticed this review today (1st of July 2024). Pips are amazing aircraft, but I'm still skeptical WRT the current state of battery technology. In my view, the energy density of the batteries needs to double before the Velis (or its successor) could be considered viable as a training aircraft (and triple the current energy density for cross-country trips). Thank you for taking us all for a ride.
I wonder if it possible to equip RATs (Ram Air Turbine) to generate some useful power while in flight like to charge the battery to extend flight time, or maybe to power the equipment so that the battery power solely focuses on the motor
Judicious use of a RAT could recover some energy back into the battery if used appropriately such as to help lower aircraft speed when required. Similar to regenerative braking in EV's. Continuous deployment would use more energy to maintain forward speed than would be recovered due to inefficiency of the RAT's generator Much like someone said to me electric cars could increase range by using an alternator to charge the battery as you drive. Nice idea but doesn't account for the inefficiency of the alternator.
Great work with this video. I have experience flying Pipistrel-Sinus, Virus and Alpha trainer. There are such a great planes. Electrifying Pipistrel planes is a step forward. The proof that validates Pipistrel idea is the certificate. So its a big step for aviation. Great introduction in this video. 🤘👏😎
My friend, I congratulate you on doing this work, making known the aeronautical technology of the future, for us pilots with the old-fashioned veneer, where we learned to slap. I would like this material to reach all corners of the world so that this certified prototype can be quickly developed for improvements for flight hours as a weight load. A hug from venezuela, josé antequera.
Amazing! This is a practical electric aircraft. Designed for training of course. As we've seen with electric cars, the hardest bit is to get them to market, after that people can see that it works and it is easier to get investment and improve the technology. Its quietness could make learning to fly cheaper too, because neighbours aren't very likely to complain about the noise it might get permission to fly from cheaper places.
Well done pilot report. I agree that this airplane is a good fit for the training market. The limitation in battery “power” is an advantage in this market as it makes the student be also aware of available power. Also there is plenty of research showing that learning is best achieved by shorter episodes of performing tasks with reflection and debriefing immediately afterwards. The roughly I hour of battery life seems perfect. 40 minutes of flying with a 20 min reserve.
Hi, i like electric so much. Very interesting video and beautiful experience. Congratulation ! 👍(I'm italian, have been a Swiss pilot in Lszl since 1986 until 1991, "EASA" now.) 👋
Switzerland is an ideal glider country because of the mixture of mountains and flat terrain which creates updrafts but also turbulence. Here in the north of Tunisia we have some good spots for gliders too but in the south the desert is not that good I guess because of rare updrafts I guess.
Immediate future of skydiving (Pilatus and twin Otters): a plane that recovers energy on the nosedive after dropping the guys and fastcharges on induction at the bottom in 5min and 20min every 1,5 hoursa
The "first certified" is a gross overstatement. Electric self-launchers are around for 15 years now. "Of its kind" is a marketing term that can be used to make everything unique.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I don't think it's a gross overstatement. Meeting the Certification Standards of one of the major aviation regulators (EASA CS-VLA in this case) is a whole different story than just putting in an electric motor into a glider and making sure it can take-off by its own. EASA GA-Boss Dominique Roland himself called the project a "double milestone" and a "groundbreaking project". Remember, this is the first aircraft that will allow for commercial flight school use to train pilots for their PPL, CPL or ATPL licenses. Hasn't been possible with any other aircraft yet.
Have been following E-flight for a while... And think it's awesome... Definitely think some form of regen would be good for extending the length of flying time...
Thank you for this video. My goal is to fly and own an electric airplane. I found the stall with the stick shaker quite interesting. I wish you did more stalls such as a stall in a turn while climbing. Or, a stall in a turn simulating a stall turning base to final. Does the airplane slip? What are the spin characteristics? The 1.5 to 2.0 hours useful battery to power the airplane is not bad for a trainer airplane. A Pitts S2A can be flown for 2.0 hours before you run out of fuel. There was a quick mention of a possible regeneration of electricity which would provide a better utility for this airplane. Thank you for this video.
@@whatta7793 Hard to tell, but for a real solution (commercial aviation) we're a lot further than that. The chemistry/physics are fairly complex but the thing is that lb for lb (kg/kg) aviation fuel is orders of magnitude better in terms of fuel efficiency.
@@marcdraco2189 oh yeah there's no arguing that. Fuel will more than likely ALWAYS have more energy density than batteries EVER will. Moving to batteries and electric motors is all about long term savings, a little more reliability than combustion engines, and, 'saving the environment'.
Span-loading, Mike Range is proportional to span(as you say) and inversely proportional to battery charge . Wing chord is secondary, reduced chord helps reduce parasite drag.
I'd add more music in response to replies like this. How about asking nicely or making a suggestion rather than barking orders at someone who is making content for YOU for FREE?
Electric planes are the future. Hardly any moving parts, just the motor and 2 batteries (One for flying and the other for backup to get you on the ground) and real quiet. Take it up 10,000 feet and let off the pedal and you can fly like a glider, put your foot on the pedal, and the motor spins up again....no restarting a gas engine. Now to make the batteries better.....
They (electric airplanes) are at about 1 hour flight time, and people are talking about airplanes with 2 hour flight times. But that is for 2 place no baggage. You have to get to 4 hours and more carry capacity before this is practical. The issues are: 1. Batteries are not optimized for weight. A car cares far less how much the pack weighs. 2. Batteries don't get lighter as you fly. Gas fueled aircraft do.
sight seeing is quite short usually. so with an hour flight is enough 2 would be nice. but of course long lasting battery is needed. something that can last few thousands of cycles. or alternative cheap to replace battery that is easy to recycle.
Beautifully made video with very interesting and thoughtful content. Surely range will expand to a more useful 2hrs plus endurance as improvements in battery technology takes place driven by the car industry, with this aircraft leading the way. Many thanks for the great content.
capybaras - Please Note: the Horizontal Stabilizer is providing a Countering Downforce in Flight, and, it seems the note of a Single Bolt, does not clarify if there is any basic mechanical interface than provides the Primary Attachment, and if the "Bolt" is just a Secondary Security Device. Many Gliders from Pipistrel use these "T-Tail" arrangements, and have, Safely, for years, so I suspect they have got it "Figured Out" safety wise!
How does this setup deal with cold temperatures?? Cold temperatures can cut an electric vehicle's range(available energy capacity) in half. Wouldn't a plane like this have similar problems plus the issue of air at higher altitude being much colder?
Good question... I don't know why airplane batteries would behave any different from other electrically powered vehicles. Maybe you can "preheat" the cabin or the battery enclosures prior to the flight while still connected to the charger for better endurance, but I didn't talk about this issue with Marc, so this is just speculation...
Very nice coverage of the topic, thank you. I've given the thumbs up. Regarding video production, I too wish the music were absent because I want to hear the aircraft noises and conversation - personal preference as I'm sure others like the music. As I produce videos regarding model aircraft, I have an idea of the effort and have best hopes for your commercial success. In the world of RC models, I built my first electric propulsion version in 1985, and still have it. These days, easily 80% of my fleet of models are electric but I remember how everybody was negative about the future. These days, with 1:1 aircraft, I hear the negative voices but ignore them (as I did with models) because the future is coming and we will find a way. I only hope I am not too old when it arrives! As of now, the mission of this aircraft does not meet my requirements but I suspect it will not be too much longer before it does - two hours duration, two people, 50Kg of cargo, 6-8hr recharge time. I am excited for the future. Thank you once again!
Your ability to speak english is amazing!!!!! The plane looked great but to me it looked like it's over built and heavy material were used. I have flown full scale airplanes, but these day I fly only radio controlled planes as a hobby. As we all know the biggest airplane's enemy and challenge is weight. I am sure that a lot of composite materials were used to build this plane, but from my first glance I thought to myself that this plane looks heavy. Please keep up the good work and I hope that you'll have an update about this plane and similar planes soon. Keep up the good work :)
I'm just picturing a little compartment in the instrument cluster where you pull a cover and stick 8 D cell batteries. "alright we're running on reserve now, we have about 5 minutes of extra flight time".
Well you could use Lithium D-cells, for powering the avionics. They would be lighter than Alkaline batteries. Would be nice to be able to plug in an emergency battery pack, for your controls, and instruments.
Very exciting to see the advances being made. It did look like the dash was a bit high. I noticed you craning your neck several times to see over it. I’d think without a big engine forward that they could give a much better forward view. Still exciting though.
Yep the airframe has been adopted from the Pipistrel Virus which has a Rotax engine. I‘m a rather short guy and there is no way to adjust the seats, only the pedals (Like in a Diamond). I could have used a cushion or so though...
I think an electric sailplane makes sense but it doesn't work for an airplane meant to travel because flight time is limited by battery weight. 50 minutes probably won't even be enough for flight training because of the cross country requirements which a student needs to fulfill. Lithium batteries have 1/10 the practical energy density of gasoline (roughly speaking, after taking the higher efficiency of an electric motor into account), so you won't get a battery that lasts longer than an hour into an airplane and still have useful load for the occupants. An efficient modern light sport aircraft will hold about 30 gallons (113L, 189lbs, 86kg) of fuel, burn ~4.5 gallons per hour for flight times in the 6 hour range. To do the same with an electric power plant, the battery would have to weigh nearly a ton (860kg).
You could take students to solo stage with no marginal running costs. Sounds good to me! It's early days - like he said, electric aircraft development is about 10 years behind cars, where the range problem has been solved now to some degree.
@@stevenpam I respectfully disagree. Although I'm not a flight instructor, I do know that a large percentage of flight instruction crashes occur while transitioning into a new aircraft (and these kinds of flights involve an instructor and a student who already has a pilot certificate). From AOPA's 2014 safety report on accidents during flight instruction: "The greatest number of accidents overall occurred during transitions to unfamiliar aircraft, which also resulted in the second-largest number of fatalities." An instructor would never want to load a student pilot with such a transition just before her first solo. As far as the range problem in cars, the real innovation was more about battery manufacturing supply lines, and recharging infrastructure than it was about engineering the vehicle itself. It was always possible to load 1000 pounds of batteries into a car. The problem with lithium batteries in aviation is that batteries won't weigh any less 10 years from now than they do today, and the electric motors are already more than 90% efficient. I'm going to guess and say it's likely possible to produce an electric airplane with 3 hours of range, but it's going to have a 30m wing span, cruise at about 50 knots, and require a whole team of people to launch its cumbersome air frame down the runway.
There is lots of weigh to save with the new electric motors: Lucid having the lightest motors. An 350HP Tesla electric motor weights half of a Rotax 100HP. We imagine a 100HP electric motor could be much lighter. Some more saving will come with battery technology. Maybe they don't need 118 liters either (1100kms). If you can go 200kms with 22kw, you should be able to triple the distance with 80kw, more than enough for most individual pilots, and recharge in less than one hour at any airstrip equipped with superchargers. Teslas actual energy density is 250wh/kg, pushing to +300Wh/kg. That would give us an 80kw battery with a weight of 270kgs, with a 25kgs +100HP electric motor, the difference with a fully loaded 118l/rotax100HP would be around +130kgs
Piston engines nowadays manage to climb the rotation very fast, electric motors have almost instantaneous torque. I was wondering if there's a noticeable difference?
Did the stick viber when landing? Isn't this a bit annoying? Great video, thank you, I am very enthousiastic that electric airplanes become the new standard :)
This is a beautiful little aircraft! I'd love to see this real world plane digitized, and added to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, as a purchasable add on. Would be addition to the collection. Reminds me a lot of the Supralight. bit with better instruments. By the way, is this aircraft soaring capable? Would be a great way to extend flight duration. Thanks for sharing this. Loved the depth of field on the first scenes. Very nice.
Thanks for the compliments! I guess theoretically you could use this for soaring but wirh a gliding ratio of 1:15 it is very efficient butclearly not designed to work as a sailplane. Pipistrel and also other manufacturers like Stemme offer electric sailplanes with touring capabilities ;) That will work better for soaring ;)
Here in San Diego, CA that's a concern as well with only 1 none tower airport remaining in the area but this aircraft is a step in the right direction and will be first in line when electric power source technology is allowed to advance forward.
it’s range is definitely concerning, but these are growing pains in E-Tech. Range was always the issue of the initial EVs, then it increased & charging infrastructure expanded. we’ll see how they adapt, but I agree that E Aviation is easily 10 years behind EVs
yes it is still useless, especially taking into account the whole cycle of spare batteries, charging power limits, battery fast losing capacity in several months etc.... looking for technologies leap forward
Pipistrel quotes endurance as 50 minutes + VFR reserves, so theoretically landing after 50 minutes should leave you with 30 minutes flying time. Having flown RC for many (40 ish) years the last dozen or so with lithium batteries, the thing that scares me is a battery fire. When those things go up it is ENERGETIC! If the battery went up I'm guessing you would have less than 30 seconds to get out. Jumping out from 1,000 feet might start looking like a good alternative to being roasted in a chemical fire. Time will tell.
Cover all flat upward facing surfaces with solar cells and use that at cruising speed to supplement range. Might be worth another 20% under good conditions.
Hi there! Sorry for the late reply, I had to look it up in the unedited raw video. We were airborne for 24 minutes (excluding taxi), started at 100% and came back with 49 % in the front battery and 50% in the back battery ;)
Safety is also a reason why these small airplanes should all be electric. An electric motor has a couple moving parts where an ICE has thousands. An electric airplane will be sooo safe!
I feel the future is bright for electric planes. I do hope more advances in batteries come along, and I hope rather quickly. Like the video, and thanks for posting!
Nice video. As an engineer I'm always interested in new concepts but I'm not convinced that this will be a big commercial success until they can increase the range. As a circuit or short local flight training aircraft it is probably perfect (not ideal for cross country training) but most of the clubs here also rent aircraft to pilots for building hours or just recreational flying. They generally have small fleets of aircraft. I'm not sure it makes financial sense to buy an aircraft which only serves one single purpose. I would think some sort of hybrid diesel electric or avgas electric system would make a lot more sense as you would gain a lot of the benefits from the electric side - regenerative power, reduced noise and be able to operate the thermal engine at its design point (assuming it is used only to charge the batteries - like Diamond's concept) maximising fuel efficiency plus take advantage of the greater energy density in kerosene or avgas to gain a reasonable range. Once battery technology significantly improves, which I still think will be a decade or more away, then this concept will make a lot more sense.
Stating the obvious - everybody on the planet knows they don't have the range, but 5 years ago we didn't even have a AC let alone a certified one. Wilbur and Orville only flew a few hundred feet the first time.
Have you considered the maintenance cost associated with ICE training planes vs electric. Never mind the cost of the energy/fuel. Its a no brainer to add one or 2 of these planes into any flight schools. ROI has to be less than 2 years.
@@fredpinczuk7352 It is interesting the Pipistrel salesman de-emphasised the cost as an advantage. Given the batteries are only good now for 700 charge cycles which with an hours duration means a little over 500 hours flight time assuming 15 minutes for taxiing. Compared to an ICE aircraft which can fly for 3000 flying hours before a major overhaul I wonder how the real costs compare. Lithium Ion batteries are not cheap and I imagine replacing them will be comparable to a new engine every 500 or less flying hours. If they are able to get the charge cycles up to 1'400 as he says they target for the future then perhaps the cost savings start to be more significant given he indicates the regular maintenance is half the cost of an ICE plane. Of course as you say the fuel prices are a lot less so it would be interesting to look at the real costs. Most clubs here in Switzerland only have a handful of aircraft and most members are recreational flyers. My club does have a Tecnam P2008 to attract students. But the Tecnam has the range to also be attractive to renters who already have their license. I'm still not convinced for such clubs this aircraft would be that attractive. But I may be wrong. For a larger flying school with a large throughput of students then I agree with you this aircraft makes a lot of sense but that is not what my comment was referring to.
@@GeoffreyEngelbrecht I looked in the battery choice and chemistry, 700 cycles is right at the mid point of the suggested cycle life for NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt). Frankly, it appears not to be a very good choice for the application, and must be as consequence of suppliers availability. batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion Sounds like there maybe a business opportunity to sell upgrade battery packages. Would could also explain why the re-gen isn't enabled. The battery life cycle is very dependent on the actual charge cycles. And not just speed of charge.
@@fredpinczuk7352 I suspect the bigger problem is the certification process. Aircraft certification airs on the side of safety and requires rigorous testing and experience. As there is no experience with Lithium Ion batteries as a prime energy source in certified aircraft (this is the first such aircraft) I imagine this is why the regulators cut in half the maximum number of charge cycles that the manufacturer recommended. Given enough time and experience I'm sure the maximum charge cycles will eventually rise to the 1'400 which Pipistrel and undoubtedly the battery supplier are saying should be the charge cycle limit. This is normal in certified aircraft with the introduction of new technology and I've seen many examples of this occurring for other technologies.
when I was training a plane made a bad landing and the runways were closed. Still had over two hours of fuel onboard and many options. 50 min total fuel not so many.
Good batteries store about 250 Watt-hr per kg Elon Musk expects an improvement to 400 Watt-hr per kg. With the same life cycle properties and small degradation. See Battery day coming up. Gasoline stores about 43000 kJoule per kg or nearly 12000 Watt-hr per kg, not counting the thermal efficiency of the engine. For comparison purposes use 3000 Watt-hr per kg for gasoline. But remember 3/4 of the mass that reacts in the combustion process is oxygen from the air. In terms of flying time, that is 12 times better. With high efficiency thermal engines like the new diesel engines it will be 15 times. A properly leaned Lycoming O-360 uses 0.45 lb per hp-hr gasoline, compared to the diesel engine's 0.34 lb per hp-hr diesel fuel.
Hi Johnny: Pipistrel's FAQ state the following: "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." When I visited Marc the day I recorded the video, he told me fast-charging capability was about to be introduced but I can't tell the exact (fast-charging) times Marc told me about anymore, sorry :/
Put good pressure recovery wheel fairings on that aircraft and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 5 more minutes endurance if not 7 or 8. Unfaired wheels induce so much drag they kill speed and energy consumption!!
i wonder what the flight time could be if you replaced your copilot with another battery, maybe even a little more than that. it clearly had no problem staying in the air.
This is the time! We've had enough time to perfect the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and have hit the wall for efficiency at the expense of more and more complicated computer controls. The simplicity of electric propulsion is worth the efforts of more and more efficient batteries. The revolution is just beginning and I welcome it.
Biofuels is the future of aviation. As much as batteries evolve, even graphene batteries remain very heavy and we know that weight is one of the most important things in an aircraft
@@optimusprimezombie1782 You seem to make the assumption that biofuels will have the same energy density pr kg of mass as Jet Engines. But Biodiesel has a lower energy density than jetfuel, petrol and normal Petrodiesel. Also, biodiesel is usually used with a Petrodiesel blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% Petrodiesel. So it's still problematic considering the environment.
Electric airplanes and power density in battery cells has a lot of improvements still available to them, and I think that electric airplanes is indeed the future.. if not, it will be hydrogen planes. In my opinion.
We have been developing the electric motor and battery technology for longer than the internal combustion engine. This is not new frontier technology. Absent breakthroughs that we do not even see in the lab, what we have today is very much what we will have twenty years from now.
@@massemiable That would not be so hard to achieve. Jet fuel is ,just kerosene with a few additives like de-icers.
Video starts: social distancing conversation. Next scene: sitting shoulder to shoulder in a tiny airplane.
Love the video, thanks for showing us this beautiful plane!
They even shake hands on final haha
yah, he died of covid... or was it the 5000 cases of donuts? or did we fail to mention he was also decapitated in a car crash? oops.
yah, he died of covid... or was it the 5000 cases of donuts? or did we fail to mention he was also decapitated in a car crash? oops.
@@jaybee3165 check out excess death statistics.
Marc was very generous to showcase his Pipistrel for your channel & right seat with you. this is the first look that many of us got of this plane & it is very interesting. I’d love to fly one soon & experience what E Aviation offers.
Hvala PIPISTREL za pomembno vlogo v slovenskem gospodarstvu.❤️
Although entirely logical it is quite surprising to see the propeller stop while waiting for passing ground traffic to clear.
Yep I found that weird too in the beginning 😉
I‘ve heard it‘s about 175‘000 € but I‘m not sure about that... You might have to contact Pipistrel for that...
car, plane ...there is no unnecessary and wasteful "Idling" with electric powertrain.
@@ASWISSPILOT that's a very good price, I was expecting more! Do you know what's the maximum distance you can fly it? Could you do a flight between two cities that are 150 km apart with this plane? Thanks!
@@rynovlad3112 Thx for your comment! I think it would theoretically be possible, but you would arrive with less than the remaining legal minimum reserve... For now it‘s more a training aircraft for local flights in the vicinity of the airport ;)
Lots of wing area to incorporate high power solar cells to help with recovery of power or at least assist with powering the onboard systems to increase flight time. Not to mention lots of wing volume for additional or emergancy battery packs to be installed..
This is an awesome new channel. I would be very pleased to learned everything there is about electric airplanes. That this pane is certified is HUGE.
Amazing video footage on this electric plane! Your channel deserves much more subscribers!
Exactly, not yet 1k? Underrated!
It's a limited beginning, but it's a beginning. Remember the Wright Brothers' first flights? This would be good not only for training, but a quick weekend hop any time you want, without all the fuel and engine preflights and maintenance and expenses. It has limited use, perfect for a limited market.
@Robert Slackware I wasn't implying skipping preflight; just noting that there's less to check and less to go wrong. A thorough check would be simpler
Imagine a chain of airport restaurants that offer free charging
historic flight!! you just made history man.. great!! congrats!! rgds from Ecuador
It's finally here. I've waited a long time for this. Awesome video! Thanks.
Beautiful plane, beautiful country!
Great video and a very honest representation of the aircraft. I have shared this video on our social media platforms. Congratulations again on a great review
Thanks for the compliments! :)
Really great plane . Maybe have state of the art solar cells on wings as they are getting better. Quite a pioneering vision you have. Good luck.
Electric motors will be ideal for motorgliders and training planes.
I don't know why there is not more views or comment on this. Well done this is the future!
Thanks!
We're a long way from these replacing 172s even, but yes eventually this will be the future. I will definitely not be a first adopter though, it's a new technology after all.
My bet is that the future in aviation is actually hydrogen fuel cells
@@ShadowsDML please do not forget about the hindenberg.
So the question that everyone isnt asking, when will it appear in MSFS2020! It's the only chance I'll get to fly one...
Came here to ask the same question 😅
the question we all should ask why the only Pipistrel aircraft is only available in the Premium version.
Technically, all the planes in FS2020 are electric.
(I'll get me coat.)
Since I can’t afford both the plane nor MSFS, I’m still will wait for plane to appear in MSFS. So I will get MY chance to fly this thing by reading comment section below MSFS streams...
@@marcdraco2189 Heh, good point.
Great video and nice to see electric innovation in GA
Magnifique Lac de Gruyères. Thanks Guys !
Seems as good offer for flight training only, TO - pattern - land - charge... repeat all day. For that short range aircraft there is no other sectors to use. Limited pattern holding capacity - only small (private ) airports.
I just noticed this review today (1st of July 2024).
Pips are amazing aircraft, but I'm still skeptical WRT the current state of battery technology. In my view, the energy density of the batteries needs to double before the Velis (or its successor) could be considered viable as a training aircraft (and triple the current energy density for cross-country trips).
Thank you for taking us all for a ride.
Great video! I fly Pipistrel too. There is a Velis comming to the Netherlands next month.
I wonder if it possible to equip RATs (Ram Air Turbine) to generate some useful power while in flight like to charge the battery to extend flight time, or maybe to power the equipment so that the battery power solely focuses on the motor
Judicious use of a RAT could recover some energy back into the battery if used appropriately such as to help lower aircraft speed when required. Similar to regenerative braking in EV's. Continuous deployment would use more energy to maintain forward speed than would be recovered due to inefficiency of the RAT's generator Much like someone said to me electric cars could increase range by using an alternator to charge the battery as you drive. Nice idea but doesn't account for the inefficiency of the alternator.
Great work with this video. I have experience flying Pipistrel-Sinus, Virus and Alpha trainer. There are such a great planes. Electrifying Pipistrel planes is a step forward. The proof that validates Pipistrel idea is the certificate. So its a big step for aviation. Great introduction in this video. 🤘👏😎
Dankie/ Merci A Swiss Pilot 4 this video. Nice!!
My friend, I congratulate you on doing this work, making known the aeronautical technology of the future, for us pilots with the old-fashioned veneer, where we learned to slap.
I would like this material to reach all corners of the world so that this certified prototype can be quickly developed for improvements for flight hours as a weight load. A hug from venezuela, josé antequera.
Amazing! This is a practical electric aircraft. Designed for training of course. As we've seen with electric cars, the hardest bit is to get them to market, after that people can see that it works and it is easier to get investment and improve the technology.
Its quietness could make learning to fly cheaper too, because neighbours aren't very likely to complain about the noise it might get permission to fly from cheaper places.
Well done pilot report. I agree that this airplane is a good fit for the training market. The limitation in battery “power” is an advantage in this market as it makes the student be also aware of available power. Also there is plenty of research showing that learning is best achieved by shorter episodes of performing tasks with reflection and debriefing immediately afterwards. The roughly I hour of battery life seems perfect. 40 minutes of flying with a 20 min reserve.
Hi, i like electric so much. Very interesting video and beautiful experience. Congratulation ! 👍(I'm italian, have been a Swiss pilot in Lszl since 1986 until 1991, "EASA" now.) 👋
The future is looking bright for aviation.
It’s cool, a great Mark to start from for future design development.
Switzerland is an ideal glider country because of the mixture of mountains and flat terrain which creates updrafts but also turbulence. Here in the north of Tunisia we have some good spots for gliders too but in the south the desert is not that good I guess because of rare updrafts I guess.
Excellent Flying in and electric plane nice and quiet, and a perfect landing.4/28/2021
I'm so glad I found your channel, keep up the good work man!
Immediate future of skydiving (Pilatus and twin Otters): a plane that recovers energy on the nosedive after dropping the guys and fastcharges on induction at the bottom in 5min and 20min every 1,5 hoursa
they could add a siren like a Stuka for a fun effect. :D
Interesting, someone should do the math,
Nope. The future of skydiving is drones. No need for big plane or pilot.
@@mil-fpv4931 hard to do big ways without big planes
@@williambrennan7794 True. 95% of the skydives are 1 to 5 ways though.
what were the skie's like when you were young ?
The "first certified" is a gross overstatement. Electric self-launchers are around for 15 years now. "Of its kind" is a marketing term that can be used to make everything unique.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I don't think it's a gross overstatement. Meeting the Certification Standards of one of the major aviation regulators (EASA CS-VLA in this case) is a whole different story than just putting in an electric motor into a glider and making sure it can take-off by its own. EASA GA-Boss Dominique Roland himself called the project a "double milestone" and a "groundbreaking project".
Remember, this is the first aircraft that will allow for commercial flight school use to train pilots for their PPL, CPL or ATPL licenses. Hasn't been possible with any other aircraft yet.
Have been following E-flight for a while... And think it's awesome... Definitely think some form of regen would be good for extending the length of flying time...
Regen implies giving up some energy, velocity in a car, altitude in a plane
Regen in a plane is incredibly worthless as any loss in power equates to loss in altitude.
Simply great! Thank you.
Thank you for this video. My goal is to fly and own an electric airplane. I found the stall with the stick shaker quite interesting. I wish you did more stalls such as a stall in a turn while climbing. Or, a stall in a turn simulating a stall turning base to final. Does the airplane slip? What are the spin characteristics? The 1.5 to 2.0 hours useful battery to power the airplane is not bad for a trainer airplane. A Pitts S2A can be flown for 2.0 hours before you run out of fuel. There was a quick mention of a possible regeneration of electricity which would provide a better utility for this airplane. Thank you for this video.
Flight time too short, but i expect this will get better with new battery tech. Just watched Tesla Battery Day yesterday. Exciting time.
1 h flight + 30 min reserve for training enought
Agreed, I think in about 5-8 more years this plane could achieve around 4 hours of flight time, maybe a little more.
@@whatta7793 Hard to tell, but for a real solution (commercial aviation) we're a lot further than that. The chemistry/physics are fairly complex but the thing is that lb for lb (kg/kg) aviation fuel is orders of magnitude better in terms of fuel efficiency.
@@marcdraco2189 oh yeah there's no arguing that. Fuel will more than likely ALWAYS have more energy density than batteries EVER will. Moving to batteries and electric motors is all about long term savings, a little more reliability than combustion engines, and, 'saving the environment'.
@@whatta7793 Makes sense to me! But for commercial aviation as a species we need to get our shit together and fast before the industry collapses.
wonderful vid, welcome to the future, at last clean and environmentally friendly air travel.
Low pollution, neighbor-friendly.
Beautiful plane too!
Needs added span for lower wing-loading- would drastically extended range...
Span-loading, Mike
Range is proportional to span(as you say) and inversely proportional to battery charge . Wing chord is secondary, reduced chord helps reduce parasite drag.
I think it is a step along the progress towards complete electrification.
I'm ready, when can I buy this in the USA? Battery tech has improved a lot. Should be able to get 2 hours flight time now!
I think that was a 10 minute flight.
1 hour battery. in australia you need 30 min fixed reserve for private flying day vfr. this would half the time your allowed in the air.
Even for a training aircraft that would be much cheaper to learn to fly and doing touch and go circuits?
Ein schon etwas älteres Video aber super interessant. Danke dafür toll gemacht 👍👍👍
Is there any reason for not having solar panels built into the wings. Perhaps too a low charge?
Lose the annoying music. I'd like to hear the cockpit noise and conversation,
Lol
I'd add more music in response to replies like this. How about asking nicely or making a suggestion rather than barking orders at someone who is making content for YOU for FREE?
@@MW_1535 "Lose the annoying music" litterly a suggestion and many people seems to aggre, including me.
Loose the crap music. Or a least play something cool like Slayer.
@@MW_1535 how about no
Electric planes are the future. Hardly any moving parts, just the motor and 2 batteries (One for flying and the other for backup to get you on the ground) and real quiet. Take it up 10,000 feet and let off the pedal and you can fly like a glider, put your foot on the pedal, and the motor spins up again....no restarting a gas engine. Now to make the batteries better.....
They (electric airplanes) are at about 1 hour flight time, and people are talking about airplanes with 2 hour flight times. But that is for 2 place no baggage. You have to get to 4 hours and more carry capacity before this is practical. The issues are:
1. Batteries are not optimized for weight. A car cares far less how much the pack weighs.
2. Batteries don't get lighter as you fly. Gas fueled aircraft do.
sight seeing is quite short usually. so with an hour flight is enough 2 would be nice. but of course long lasting battery is needed. something that can last few thousands of cycles. or alternative cheap to replace battery that is easy to recycle.
How is the operation of this aircraft in cold weather conditions where the efficiency of the batteries drop off?
Very cool video! Thanks for sharing!
Beautifully made video with very interesting and thoughtful content. Surely range will expand to a more useful 2hrs plus endurance as improvements in battery technology takes place driven by the car industry, with this aircraft leading the way. Many thanks for the great content.
Thanks for the compliments!
Well Tesla is having its battery day today (my time) and hopefully a big breakthrough in battery tech coming soon
Exciting glimpse of the future. It's either electric planes or no planes at all, and I'm sure most of us would prefer the former.
"Single bolt secures stabilizer"
* sweating intensifies *
*Makes amused rotary pilot noises*
Do you know how many planes are like that? LOTS. Thats why I always check that on every single preflight.
capybaras - Please Note: the Horizontal Stabilizer is providing a Countering Downforce in Flight, and, it seems the note of a Single Bolt, does not clarify if there is any basic mechanical interface than provides the Primary Attachment, and if the "Bolt" is just a Secondary Security Device.
Many Gliders from Pipistrel use these "T-Tail" arrangements, and have, Safely, for years, so I suspect they have got it "Figured Out" safety wise!
@@2507gs clearly I don't, what are some examples?
@@robertweekley5926 so, single bolt....but not single?
Great video!
How does this setup deal with cold temperatures?? Cold temperatures can cut an electric vehicle's range(available energy capacity) in half. Wouldn't a plane like this have similar problems plus the issue of air at higher altitude being much colder?
Good question... I don't know why airplane batteries would behave any different from other electrically powered vehicles. Maybe you can "preheat" the cabin or the battery enclosures prior to the flight while still connected to the charger for better endurance, but I didn't talk about this issue with Marc, so this is just speculation...
Very nice coverage of the topic, thank you. I've given the thumbs up. Regarding video production, I too wish the music were absent because I want to hear the aircraft noises and conversation - personal preference as I'm sure others like the music. As I produce videos regarding model aircraft, I have an idea of the effort and have best hopes for your commercial success. In the world of RC models, I built my first electric propulsion version in 1985, and still have it. These days, easily 80% of my fleet of models are electric but I remember how everybody was negative about the future. These days, with 1:1 aircraft, I hear the negative voices but ignore them (as I did with models) because the future is coming and we will find a way. I only hope I am not too old when it arrives! As of now, the mission of this aircraft does not meet my requirements but I suspect it will not be too much longer before it does - two hours duration, two people, 50Kg of cargo, 6-8hr recharge time. I am excited for the future. Thank you once again!
Thanks for the compliments!! 😉
@Robert Slackware Times have progressed and the same will happen with full-scale as the young man from Switzerland has documented wonderfully.
Your ability to speak english is amazing!!!!! The plane looked great but to me it looked like it's over built and heavy material were used. I have flown full scale airplanes, but these day I fly only radio controlled planes as a hobby. As we all know the biggest airplane's enemy and challenge is weight. I am sure that a lot of composite materials were used to build this plane, but from my first glance I thought to myself that this plane looks heavy. Please keep up the good work and I hope that you'll have an update about this plane and similar planes soon. Keep up the good work :)
What is the expected recharge time after a 0:50 sortie?
(long recharge times could be detrimental to a training atmosphere)
They can be replaced with a new fresh set of batteries while the empty set can be charged for a full day just have several sets
beautiful plane
Pipistrel Electro I need you to hold in the pattern, "negative tower, i didn't bring any backup duracells with me"
I'm just picturing a little compartment in the instrument cluster where you pull a cover and stick 8 D cell batteries. "alright we're running on reserve now, we have about 5 minutes of extra flight time".
th-cam.com/video/cxt-HwDCaJY/w-d-xo.html
8 D Cells? You’ve just killed your range with that extra weight!
Well you could use Lithium D-cells, for powering the avionics. They would be lighter than Alkaline batteries. Would be nice to be able to plug in an emergency battery pack, for your controls, and instruments.
"In that case, fly by the tower and we'll toss a LONG extension cord to you."
Very exciting to see the advances being made. It did look like the dash was a bit high. I noticed you craning your neck several times to see over it. I’d think without a big engine forward that they could give a much better forward view. Still exciting though.
Yep the airframe has been adopted from the Pipistrel Virus which has a Rotax engine. I‘m a rather short guy and there is no way to adjust the seats, only the pedals (Like in a Diamond). I could have used a cushion or so though...
Why in the world would you have background music playing when we want to hear the sound, or not, of its entire operation?
I think an electric sailplane makes sense but it doesn't work for an airplane meant to travel because flight time is limited by battery weight. 50 minutes probably won't even be enough for flight training because of the cross country requirements which a student needs to fulfill.
Lithium batteries have 1/10 the practical energy density of gasoline (roughly speaking, after taking the higher efficiency of an electric motor into account), so you won't get a battery that lasts longer than an hour into an airplane and still have useful load for the occupants. An efficient modern light sport aircraft will hold about 30 gallons (113L, 189lbs, 86kg) of fuel, burn ~4.5 gallons per hour for flight times in the 6 hour range. To do the same with an electric power plant, the battery would have to weigh nearly a ton (860kg).
You could take students to solo stage with no marginal running costs. Sounds good to me! It's early days - like he said, electric aircraft development is about 10 years behind cars, where the range problem has been solved now to some degree.
@@stevenpam I respectfully disagree. Although I'm not a flight instructor, I do know that a large percentage of flight instruction crashes occur while transitioning into a new aircraft (and these kinds of flights involve an instructor and a student who already has a pilot certificate). From AOPA's 2014 safety report on accidents during flight instruction: "The greatest number of accidents overall occurred during transitions to
unfamiliar aircraft, which also resulted in the second-largest number of fatalities." An instructor would never want to load a student pilot with such a transition just before her first solo.
As far as the range problem in cars, the real innovation was more about battery manufacturing supply lines, and recharging infrastructure than it was about engineering the vehicle itself. It was always possible to load 1000 pounds of batteries into a car. The problem with lithium batteries in aviation is that batteries won't weigh any less 10 years from now than they do today, and the electric motors are already more than 90% efficient. I'm going to guess and say it's likely possible to produce an electric airplane with 3 hours of range, but it's going to have a 30m wing span, cruise at about 50 knots, and require a whole team of people to launch its cumbersome air frame down the runway.
Kevin Ellis Good points
Also, as pounds of fuel are burned, your plane is lighter . . . so, efficiency increases while the electric plane weighs the same takeoff and landing.
There is lots of weigh to save with the new electric motors: Lucid having the lightest motors. An 350HP Tesla electric motor weights half of a Rotax 100HP. We imagine a 100HP electric motor could be much lighter. Some more saving will come with battery technology.
Maybe they don't need 118 liters either (1100kms). If you can go 200kms with 22kw, you should be able to triple the distance with 80kw, more than enough for most individual pilots, and recharge in less than one hour at any airstrip equipped with superchargers.
Teslas actual energy density is 250wh/kg, pushing to +300Wh/kg. That would give us an 80kw battery with a weight of 270kgs, with a 25kgs +100HP electric motor, the difference with a fully loaded 118l/rotax100HP would be around +130kgs
Piston engines nowadays manage to climb the rotation very fast, electric motors have almost instantaneous torque. I was wondering if there's a noticeable difference?
Great video. Would be great to see electric aircraft get better and better
Did the stick viber when landing? Isn't this a bit annoying?
Great video, thank you, I am very enthousiastic that electric airplanes become the new standard :)
This is a beautiful little aircraft! I'd love to see this real world plane digitized, and added to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, as a purchasable add on. Would be addition to the collection. Reminds me a lot of the Supralight. bit with better instruments. By the way, is this aircraft soaring capable? Would be a great way to extend flight duration. Thanks for sharing this. Loved the depth of field on the first scenes. Very nice.
Thanks for the compliments! I guess theoretically you could use this for soaring but wirh a gliding ratio of 1:15 it is very efficient butclearly not designed to work as a sailplane. Pipistrel and also other manufacturers like Stemme offer electric sailplanes with touring capabilities ;) That will work better for soaring ;)
@@ASWISSPILOT Well, if I weren't legally blind, I'd look into all of these. 1:15 glide ratio is not too far off from soaring capability, then. :)
Have they Tried using hybrid car technology in experimental aircraft like this to fly much longer? Thanks
Coming from a flying club where we leave 45 minutes to an hour of reserve fuel, having a range of 50 minutes gives me anxiety.
Andrei Scurei
Obviously just good as a trainer for 40 minute flights at this point.
Keep well within range of the airport.
Here in San Diego, CA that's a concern as well with only 1 none tower airport remaining in the area but this aircraft is a step in the right direction and will be first in line when electric power source technology is allowed to advance forward.
it’s range is definitely concerning, but these are growing pains in E-Tech. Range was always the issue of the initial EVs, then it increased & charging infrastructure expanded. we’ll see how they adapt, but I agree that E Aviation is easily 10 years behind EVs
yes it is still useless, especially taking into account the whole cycle of spare batteries, charging power limits, battery fast losing capacity in several months etc.... looking for technologies leap forward
Pipistrel quotes endurance as 50 minutes + VFR reserves, so theoretically landing after 50 minutes should leave you with 30 minutes flying time.
Having flown RC for many (40 ish) years the last dozen or so with lithium batteries, the thing that scares me is a battery fire. When those things go up it is ENERGETIC! If the battery went up I'm guessing you would have less than 30 seconds to get out. Jumping out from 1,000 feet might start looking like a good alternative to being roasted in a chemical fire. Time will tell.
I always do my preflight counterclockwise as viewed from above. He's not in Australia, is he?
Cover all flat upward facing surfaces with solar cells and use that at cruising speed to supplement range. Might be worth another 20% under good conditions.
So what was your actual time flying this thing and how much battery was left at the end?
Hi there! Sorry for the late reply, I had to look it up in the unedited raw video. We were airborne for 24 minutes (excluding taxi), started at 100% and came back with 49 % in the front battery and 50% in the back battery ;)
Excellent!
How long does it take to recharge the battery?
Safety is also a reason why these small airplanes should all be electric. An electric motor has a couple moving parts where an ICE has thousands. An electric airplane will be sooo safe!
I feel the future is bright for electric planes. I do hope more advances in batteries come along, and I hope rather quickly. Like the video, and thanks for posting!
It's a pity you had to put that music in to cover up all the engine noise
(I'm being sarcastic you know)
:P :P :P
😆
Yamaha makes an e-motor that doesn't spin up, but sounds like someone ripping paper.
Good Vid - Thank You for making - Want One
Could gliding increase the efficiency of this vehicle?
Nice video. As an engineer I'm always interested in new concepts but I'm not convinced that this will be a big commercial success until they can increase the range. As a circuit or short local flight training aircraft it is probably perfect (not ideal for cross country training) but most of the clubs here also rent aircraft to pilots for building hours or just recreational flying. They generally have small fleets of aircraft. I'm not sure it makes financial sense to buy an aircraft which only serves one single purpose. I would think some sort of hybrid diesel electric or avgas electric system would make a lot more sense as you would gain a lot of the benefits from the electric side - regenerative power, reduced noise and be able to operate the thermal engine at its design point (assuming it is used only to charge the batteries - like Diamond's concept) maximising fuel efficiency plus take advantage of the greater energy density in kerosene or avgas to gain a reasonable range. Once battery technology significantly improves, which I still think will be a decade or more away, then this concept will make a lot more sense.
Stating the obvious - everybody on the planet knows they don't have the range, but 5 years ago we didn't even have a AC let alone a certified one. Wilbur and Orville only flew a few hundred feet the first time.
Have you considered the maintenance cost associated with ICE training planes vs electric. Never mind the cost of the energy/fuel. Its a no brainer to add one or 2 of these planes into any flight schools. ROI has to be less than 2 years.
@@fredpinczuk7352 It is interesting the Pipistrel salesman de-emphasised the cost as an advantage. Given the batteries are only good now for 700 charge cycles which with an hours duration means a little over 500 hours flight time assuming 15 minutes for taxiing. Compared to an ICE aircraft which can fly for 3000 flying hours before a major overhaul I wonder how the real costs compare. Lithium Ion batteries are not cheap and I imagine replacing them will be comparable to a new engine every 500 or less flying hours. If they are able to get the charge cycles up to 1'400 as he says they target for the future then perhaps the cost savings start to be more significant given he indicates the regular maintenance is half the cost of an ICE plane. Of course as you say the fuel prices are a lot less so it would be interesting to look at the real costs. Most clubs here in Switzerland only have a handful of aircraft and most members are recreational flyers. My club does have a Tecnam P2008 to attract students. But the Tecnam has the range to also be attractive to renters who already have their license. I'm still not convinced for such clubs this aircraft would be that attractive. But I may be wrong. For a larger flying school with a large throughput of students then I agree with you this aircraft makes a lot of sense but that is not what my comment was referring to.
@@GeoffreyEngelbrecht I looked in the battery choice and chemistry, 700 cycles is right at the mid point of the suggested cycle life for NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt). Frankly, it appears not to be a very good choice for the application, and must be as consequence of suppliers availability.
batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion
Sounds like there maybe a business opportunity to sell upgrade battery packages.
Would could also explain why the re-gen isn't enabled. The battery life cycle is very dependent on the actual charge cycles. And not just speed of charge.
@@fredpinczuk7352 I suspect the bigger problem is the certification process. Aircraft certification airs on the side of safety and requires rigorous testing and experience. As there is no experience with Lithium Ion batteries as a prime energy source in certified aircraft (this is the first such aircraft) I imagine this is why the regulators cut in half the maximum number of charge cycles that the manufacturer recommended. Given enough time and experience I'm sure the maximum charge cycles will eventually rise to the 1'400 which Pipistrel and undoubtedly the battery supplier are saying should be the charge cycle limit. This is normal in certified aircraft with the introduction of new technology and I've seen many examples of this occurring for other technologies.
Hi how did it fly
When will Pipistrel go public?
Plug it into the red cord for 80 octane electricity or the blue for 100.
Very cool.
So Electric instant performance performs even with flight take off....I always wanted to know this. Thank you.
Where was this location? And secondly what cameras are you using? Are you using 3? I am looking at Pipistrel brand but not electric.
Hi there: We flew out of Ecuvillens in Switzerland (LSGE). I used a Gopro Hero 7, a DJI Osmo Action, a Gopro Session 5 plus my Smartphone.
Sooner or later, like it or not, electric is the future!!
this could be used as a recon plane it only lacking is the radar stealth and state of the art camera
Can holder of SEPL PPL license fly with it?
Yes! ;)
Would like an update
when I was training a plane made a bad landing and the runways were closed. Still had over two hours of fuel onboard and many options. 50 min total fuel not so many.
for a small bush/hobby plane i'd say it enough especially when you are only going to be flying out small local airstrips
Energy of a kilo of AvGas vs a kilo of battery in terms of flying time? Just asking.
Good batteries store about 250 Watt-hr per kg
Elon Musk expects an improvement to 400 Watt-hr per kg.
With the same life cycle properties and small degradation.
See Battery day coming up.
Gasoline stores about 43000 kJoule per kg or nearly 12000 Watt-hr per kg, not counting the thermal efficiency of the engine. For comparison purposes use 3000 Watt-hr per kg for gasoline.
But remember 3/4 of the mass that reacts in the combustion process is oxygen from the air.
In terms of flying time, that is 12 times better.
With high efficiency thermal engines like the new diesel engines it will be 15 times.
A properly leaned Lycoming O-360 uses 0.45 lb per hp-hr gasoline, compared to the diesel engine's 0.34 lb per hp-hr diesel fuel.
@@hernanposnansky7154 And as you know, as you burn fuel, the plane gets lighter and more efficient. That's going to be a tough advantage to overcome.
Please turn the music OFF in the video when the engine starts !
how about a noise comparison?
charging time for full charge?
Hi Johnny: Pipistrel's FAQ state the following: "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."
When I visited Marc the day I recorded the video, he told me fast-charging capability was about to be introduced but I can't tell the exact (fast-charging) times Marc told me about anymore, sorry :/
Put good pressure recovery wheel fairings on that aircraft and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 5 more minutes endurance if not 7 or 8. Unfaired wheels induce so much drag they kill speed and energy consumption!!
i wonder what the flight time could be if you replaced your copilot with another battery, maybe even a little more than that. it clearly had no problem staying in the air.