That is the primary electrical plane to obtain kind certification. In-built Slovenia, it’s primarily based on the Alpha, which makes use of a 1.5-litre flat 4 with air-cooled cylinders and water-cooled heads for an output of 100bhp. That engine is made by Rotax in Austria and is the powerplant of alternative for many trendy light-weight plane. As a replacement within the nostril of the Velis Electro is an electrical motor, made in-house by Pipistrel, that produces 88bhp at take-off and drives a composite three-blade propeller.
There are two batteries, first due to the necessity for redundancy and in addition for weight and stability. Protecting weight to a minimal in a lightweight plane is essential for efficiency, however of equal concern is the place the burden is positioned. For those who have been to place all of the batteries behind the cockpit, the centre of gravity could be method too far again. For those who took off, the plane would instantly stall and fall again to Earth on its again. Put all of the batteries forward of the cockpit and it might attempt to bury itself nostril first into the bottom. So one battery is in between the firewall and the motor and the opposite is behind the cockpit.
The motor and energy controller are each water-cooled by their very own system. The batteries (every 12kWh) are additionally water-cooled and have a radiator that’s cooled by air drawn in via a scoop on the port facet of the fuselage. The air is extracted by way of a duct beneath the fuselage. There’s no on-board charger due to weight, so as a substitute the batteries are charged by way of a unit that wants 415V three-phase AC energy.
Earlier than we go any additional, we have to speak vary, or fairly endurance. The Pipistrel Velis Electro has an endurance of about 45 minutes with round quarter-hour of reserve – not dissimilar to the Nineteen Sixties English Electrical Lightning supersonic interceptor. Its high velocity, or VNE (velocity by no means exceed), is 108 knots and its cruising velocity at 6000ft is 102 knots. Pipistrel markets the Velis Electro as a coach, resulting from its restricted vary and endurance. UK importer Deepak Mahajan, my captain within the Velis Electro, backs this up. Thus far, he has bought a number of of the £155,000-plus-tax machines to flying faculties.
The instrument panel is precisely the identical as within the Alpha Pipistrel, other than a display for the Electrical Propulsion System Indicator. This shows battery cost and battery and inverter temperatures when the plane is on cost; or revs, energy, battery cost, time remaining, voltage, battery temperature and coolant temperatures for the motor and battery methods when it’s flying. That’s extra knowledge than you get within the Enyaq, however then in an plane, it’s essential know instantly if one thing goes fallacious. Lastly, there are a few panels for warning lights that may let you know in case your day is about to be spoiled.
