The United States Air Force (USAF) will test the 100% electric Pipistrel Velis aircraft in training new pilots through the Agility Prime program.
The model was selected by the AFWERX program in partnership with Modern Technology Solution (MTSI), which seek to promote a culture of innovation within the USAF. Including the use of zero-emission aircraft in the USAF, the Agility Prime program is also evaluating the use of other aircraft, including the use of eVTOL in missions.
With this, the US Air Force will have at its disposal two rented Velis Electro, as well as technical provided by Velis Electro itself, as determined by the AeroTime Portal.
Built entirely from composite materials, the Velis Electro can carry two people. Its landing gear is fixed, tricycle type, and has only one motor, which is electric. The aircraft was developed to be used in pilot training. In 2020, the Pipistrel Velis Electro became the world's first and only electric aircraft to receive full type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Although Pipistrel is a Slovenian company, the company was acquired by the North American Textron Aviation in 2022, becoming part of Textro eAviation, a division focused on the development of electric and zero-emission aircraft.
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With information: AeroTime
