PIPISTRELL reaches a MILESTONE IN THE eVTOL sector
According to AI research, the first flight of an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) unmanned aircraft was successfully conducted by Pipistrel, a division of Textron eAviation. The aircraft, named NUUVA V300, completed its maiden flight on January 31, 2025, in Gorizia, northeastern Italy.
Under the authority of ITALIAN CIVIL AIR AUTHORITY [Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile] (ENAC), Pipistrel, located in Slovenia and Italy, but owned by Textron eAviation, demonstrated a significant advance in the development and operation of sustainable and versatile eVTOL. Pipistrel has been in aviation for many years starting off with triangular shaped hang gliders, whose image reminded all of “bats” and thus named after the Italian word for bat, pipistrello.
From that origin, the company designed, built and sold over 2,000 aircraft:
- powered and ultralight planes.
- Sinus and Virus series.
- Taurus the world’s first 2-seat fully electric aircraft.
- Pipistrel Panthera, the most powerful hybrid electric powertrain in aviation to date, as a part of the project HYPSTAIR. The EU funded the Hypstair program:
- Taurus G4, a joint venture under the EU’s “HY4” project, was the world’s first four-seat passenger aircraft powered by a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system
- Pipistrel Velis Electro, the fully-electric version of the Virus SW 121, received the World’s first type certificate for an electric aircraft from EASA
- Pipistrel Nuuva V300 and the smaller Pipistrel Nuuva V20 two cargo carrying electric drones,.
- .. In 2007 and 2008, Pipistrel claimed two consecutive victories at NASA Centennial Challenges. In the 2007 Personal Air Vehicle challenge, the modified Pipistrel Virus
Through its relationship with Textron, which acquired the Slovenian enterprise in 2022, its technological reach increased beyond its light, electric experience. The NUUVA V300 has the structural and material strength to carry a load of 600 lbs./300 kg over 600m/300 KM. Its EIGHT ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC MOTORS power the VTOL phase of flight, while its conventional fuel engines provide propulsion during cruise.
Pipistrel E-811 electric engines, already Type Certified. This revolutionary zero-emission powertrain is entirely liquid-cooled, including the batteries, and has demonstrated the ability to withstand faults, battery thermal runaway events, and crash loads as part of the EASA certification process. The whole system is safeguarded by the integrated health self-monitoring system that alerts of potential malfunctions even before they occur, increasing the reliability and safety.
A dependable and proven cruise engine is installed in the aft fuselage and powers the aircraft to its destination, offering unbeatable fuel economy and low maintenance costs. Aerodynamics are enhanced by the unique tandem-wing configuration with fly-by-wire control surfaces, which not only boosts efficiency but also reduces the landing footprint of the vehicle and assures a wide center-of-gravity margin.
This unique dual power system provides unparalleled flexibility and runway independence. The NUUVA V300 is powered by Pipistrel/Textron developed proprietary battery systems, ensuring efficient, sustainable and cost-effective performance.
The Nuuva V300 is remotely monitored by an operator at the ground control station, developed in cooperation with Textron Systems, enabling fully automatic point-and-click operations. This capacity is made practical by an automatic Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight capabilities, will transition from vertical to forward flight on its wings and follow the most recent flight plan until landing. The first air vehicle is powered by a fly-by-wire, triple-redundant flight control system supplied by Honeywell.
As with many disruptive aviation technologies, the NUUVA’s potential uses are only limited by the imagination of the operator. The obvious cargo delivery utilization, search & rescue and military applications will be its initial missions, but more will come to market.
Successful First Hover Flight of Pipistrel Nuuva V300 a Long-Range,
Large-Vapacity Hybrid-Electric VTOL
[internet search, including AI, could not find a definition of “Vapacity.”]
– Pipistrel,[1] a Textron Inc. company, has announced the SUCCESSFUL FIRST HOVER FLIGHT of the NUUVA V300, a long-range, large-capacity hybrid-electric VTOL unmanned aircraft. This milestone marks an advancement in the development of advanced, sustainable and versatile unmanned aerial systems.
The Nuuva V300 is designed to carry a 600-pound payload over a range of up to 300 nautical miles and is capable of operating from paved or unimproved surfaces. The aircraft is engineered to load cargo through the nose of the fuselage, simplifying the process for operators and allowing for multiple payload configurations. Built to support a capacity of more than 100 CUBIC FEET, it can hold up to three cargo pallets or be loaded with loose cargo, enhancing its utility for a variety of logistics needs.
“We are thrilled to witness the Nuuva V300’s first flight, a demonstration of our leadership in emerging technology and advanced air mobility, as well as our commitment to multi-purpose aviation solutions,” shared KRIYA SHORTT, President & CEO of Textron eAviation. “The Nuuva V300’s unique capabilities and robust design will not only transform logistics but also play a crucial role in commercial and defense missions such as search and rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and ship-to-shore deliveries.”
“Today’s milestone is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our team at Pipistrel,” added Gabriel Massey, President & Managing Director of Pipistrel. “The Nuuva’s first flight demonstrates Pipistrel’s strength in electric propulsion and dedication to advancing the aviation industry through our active involvement in research programs and our successful collaboration with regulatory agencies, including our recent operational authorization from the ITALIAN CIVIL AIR AUTHORITY (ENAC).”
Equipped with a ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKE-OFF POWERTRAIN AND A SEPARATE DEDICATED CRUISE PROPULSION SYSTEM, the Nuuva V300 will provide unparalleled flexibility and runway independence. The aircraft is powered by in-house developed proprietary battery systems, ensuring efficient, sustainable and cost-effective performance. This unique combination of technologies will enable the Nuuva V300 to operate in a wide range of environments.
The Nuuva V300 is remotely monitored by an operator at the ground control station, developed in cooperation with Textron Systems, a fellow Textron Inc. company, enabling fully automatic point-and-click operations. Textron Systems has decades of experience designing, manufacturing and fielding uncrewed command and control systems, including millions of operational UAS flight hours in support of several U.S. Army Programs of Records.
The aircraft, which is equipped with automatic Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight capabilities, will transition from vertical to forward flight on its wings and follow the most recent flight plan until landing. The first air vehicle is powered by a fly-by-wire, triple-redundant flight control system supplied by Honeywell.
To support the continued expansion of the aircraft’s flight envelope, a second Nuuva V300 air vehicle will also join the flight program in 2025. This addition will further enhance the aircraft’s performance and ensure it meets the highest standards of safety and reliability.
[1] Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturer established in 1989[2] by Ivo Boscarol and based in Ajdovščina. Its facilities are located in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, and near Gorizia, Italy. By March 2019, Pipistrel had produced more than 2000 aircraft. In April 2022, the company was purchased by Textron.
