Impressive show of electric aviation
Electrifly-In Switzerland 2020
Quiet and low CO2, that's how flying works today. Around thousand of interested visitors to this year's Electrifly-In Switzerland, eTrophy & Symposium could see this for themselves. The participating teams from the various electric and hybrid aircraft manufacturers, as well as the speakers and participants of the symposium, who gathered at Grenchen Airport to exchange ideas and experiences, enjoyed a glorious weekend.
A total of 14 teams presented themselves with their electric planes, innovative projects and technical developments at this year’s Electrifly-In Switzerland 2020.
A total of 14 teams presented themselves with their electric planes, innovative projects and technical developments. The first EASA-certified Pipistrel Velis E could be marvelled at during the flight demonstrations, as could Toni Roth's Birdy, the Archaeopteryx and, for the first time in Grenchen, the Sunseeker Duo, to name a few of the impressive flight presentations.
Pioneering in the context of future technologies could be various other projects, such as the smartflyer SFX1, a hybrid-electric powered aircraft, the EVTOL Origin project or the eSling ETH focus project, which could be discovered in the exhibition.
In addition to the exciting technical presentations at the symposium, the eTALK, which was held for the first time, was also very well received. Around 70 visitors followed the stimulating discussion with six experienced experts and representatives from various areas of aviation. Thomas Hurter, National Councillor and SWISS Captain, Andreas Reinhard, inventor and aviation expert, Theo Rindlisbacher, representative of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Morell Westermann, futurologist and pilot, Marc Corpataux, Pilot and importer of the Pipistrel Velis E as well as Dominique Gisin, pilot and master student in astrophysics, were asked by Hansjörg Bürgi, editor of the SKYNEWS Magazine, about their opinions and experiences regarding electric flying and aviation in general in the future.
The highlight on Saturday was the presentation of the eTrophy 2020, a competition to choose the longest non-stop electric flight to Grenchen. Of the seven participants, exceptional Pilot Klaus Ohlmann flew a distance of 357.6 km from Aérodrome de Serres (LFTM) to Grenchen (LSZG) with the Lange Antares 20E and was awarded with the eTrophy.
The Electrifly-In Switzerland has become an integral part of the calendar of air meetings. Rendez-vous for the 5th edition: 11 & 12 September 2021.
Dominique Gisin, Ambassador of the Electrifly-In, perfectly complemented the picture of the exchanging participants and visitors, as she not only told them about her first experiences with an electric plane, but is especially curious to see how the first certified electric plane Pipistrel Velis E will establish itself in the flying schools. She is convinced that it will also be able to solve the discussion of noise problems on the many small airfields. She revealed that she could imagine working as a flight instructor on an electric plane one day.
Finally, the organisers were very proud that the patron of the event, Bertrand Piccard, travelled to Grenchen to see for himself the only fly-in for electric and hybrid powered aircraft in Europe. He congratulated the organisers for this initiative and their commitment. Even though there are still hurdles to be overcome and many questions have not yet been finally resolved, he is convinced that this path must be pursued intensively and persistently together - for clean and quieter flying.
The Electrifly-In Switzerland has become an integral part of the calendar of air meetings. Rendez-vous for the 5th edition: 11 & 12 September 2021.
www.electrifly-in.ch
Photo credit: „Markus A. Jegerlehner / electrifly-in“
A total of 14 teams presented themselves with their electric planes, innovative projects and technical developments at this year’s Electrifly-In Switzerland 2020.
A total of 14 teams presented themselves with their electric planes, innovative projects and technical developments. The first EASA-certified Pipistrel Velis E could be marvelled at during the flight demonstrations, as could Toni Roth's Birdy, the Archaeopteryx and, for the first time in Grenchen, the Sunseeker Duo, to name a few of the impressive flight presentations.
Pioneering in the context of future technologies could be various other projects, such as the smartflyer SFX1, a hybrid-electric powered aircraft, the EVTOL Origin project or the eSling ETH focus project, which could be discovered in the exhibition.
In addition to the exciting technical presentations at the symposium, the eTALK, which was held for the first time, was also very well received. Around 70 visitors followed the stimulating discussion with six experienced experts and representatives from various areas of aviation. Thomas Hurter, National Councillor and SWISS Captain, Andreas Reinhard, inventor and aviation expert, Theo Rindlisbacher, representative of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Morell Westermann, futurologist and pilot, Marc Corpataux, Pilot and importer of the Pipistrel Velis E as well as Dominique Gisin, pilot and master student in astrophysics, were asked by Hansjörg Bürgi, editor of the SKYNEWS Magazine, about their opinions and experiences regarding electric flying and aviation in general in the future.
The highlight on Saturday was the presentation of the eTrophy 2020, a competition to choose the longest non-stop electric flight to Grenchen. Of the seven participants, exceptional Pilot Klaus Ohlmann flew a distance of 357.6 km from Aérodrome de Serres (LFTM) to Grenchen (LSZG) with the Lange Antares 20E and was awarded with the eTrophy.
The Electrifly-In Switzerland has become an integral part of the calendar of air meetings. Rendez-vous for the 5th edition: 11 & 12 September 2021.
Dominique Gisin, Ambassador of the Electrifly-In, perfectly complemented the picture of the exchanging participants and visitors, as she not only told them about her first experiences with an electric plane, but is especially curious to see how the first certified electric plane Pipistrel Velis E will establish itself in the flying schools. She is convinced that it will also be able to solve the discussion of noise problems on the many small airfields. She revealed that she could imagine working as a flight instructor on an electric plane one day.
Finally, the organisers were very proud that the patron of the event, Bertrand Piccard, travelled to Grenchen to see for himself the only fly-in for electric and hybrid powered aircraft in Europe. He congratulated the organisers for this initiative and their commitment. Even though there are still hurdles to be overcome and many questions have not yet been finally resolved, he is convinced that this path must be pursued intensively and persistently together - for clean and quieter flying.
The Electrifly-In Switzerland has become an integral part of the calendar of air meetings. Rendez-vous for the 5th edition: 11 & 12 September 2021.
www.electrifly-in.ch
Photo credit: „Markus A. Jegerlehner / electrifly-in“
