Airbourne Western Lawns Display to Showcase Future of Sustainable Air Travel

23rd May 2022

The world’s first fully certified electric aircraft is coming to Eastbourne’s International Airshow, where it will be displayed on the Western Lawns!

The Pipistrel Velis Electro, owned by Fly About Aviation, is a two-seater electric aircraft able to fly at an altitude of 12,000 feet powered by its in-house developed and high-performance battery system. Producing zero carbon emissions and generating very low noise levels, this pioneering aircraft is fully operational and boasts a flight time of 1 hour with a 20 minute reserve when fully charged.

This exceptional aircraft will be displayed on the Western Lawns each day throughout Airbourne allowing budding pilots and aircraft enthusiasts to learn more and see the technology for themselves.

During the event Fly About Aviation will be demonstrating the practicality of ‘Sunlight to Flight’ in partnership with OHM energy, whereby the Velis Electro is charged by solar power off grid, thus keeping the carbon emission to zero and significantly reducing the running costs compared to conventionally powered aircrafts.

Councillor Margaret Bannister, Eastbourne Borough Council’s lead member for Tourism and Culture, said, “The Velis Electro is a game-changing aircraft in terms of technological innovations and cost-efficiency, paving the way for the future of environmentally sustainable, emission-free aviation.

We are delighted to shine a light on this technology at our airshow and invite visitors to learn more about Fly About Aviation’s ‘electric spiderweb’ infrastructure ambition, to create a network of charging points across the UK, which when realised will open opportunities for this aircraft to take flight in future airshow displays.

We are also proud to be support OHM Energy’s commitments to provide training to student surveyors and engineers to ensure innovation within electric powered flight continues.”

Deepak Mahajan, Director of Fly About Aviation said “Airbourne is a brilliant opportunity to showcase our exciting partnership with OHM Energy and that through solar arrays, battery storage and developing an ‘electric spiderweb’ network of nationwide charge points, electric flights with zero emissions arrived! We can’t wait to chat to the public about the future of air travel and the work we are doing to further enable zero emission, solar powered flights to take off.”

Jason Lindfield, Director of OHM Energy said “OHM Energy has always had an avid social interest in accelerating the journey to net zero and developing sustainable travel, heating and living. In addition to working with Fly About Aviation on their infrastructure vision to generate solar powered flight, we are proud to provide cutting-edge training for the next generation through collaborations with a local college group and can’t wait to chat to the Airbourne attendees about all things sustainable energy.”

OHM Energy has collaborated with the East Sussex College Group (ESCG) to open a pioneering centre of excellence in Eastbourne. With facilities providing cutting-edge training for the next generation of renewable engineers and surveyors, the centre combines the highest standards of innovative training with real world and practical influence, with many of the courses not existing until now. Airbourne attendees can learn more about their amazing work by visiting the OHM Energy Western Lawns stand during the event.

Eastbourne International Airshow is working towards becoming a carbon neutral event by reducing it’s carbon footprint in a number of ways which include donations towards local tree planting schemes, priority given to air displays which are signed up to carbon off-setting schemes and prohibiting the use of single use plastic in trade areas, alongside the promotion of water refill points. For more information and to view the full list of initiatives to reduce carbon and increase sustainability, visit EastbourneAirshow.com/Sustainability.

Airbourne is a free show and will return from 18 – 21 August 2022.  To book seating, memberships, hospitality, trade, sponsorship and advertising or to simply donate, visit EastbourneAirshow.com.