Portugal’s International Flight Academy (IFA) has confirmed a new €2.1m contract with Textron for seven Pipistrel aircraft.
Two of the new aircraft will be the Velis Electro model, the world’s only certified fully electric aircraft, powered by two water-cooled lithium batteries, with a flight range of 50 minutes, plus reserves. The two new electric trainers will be the first of their kind in Portugal, the school confirmed.
The remaining five aircraft acquired by IFA are the Explorer model, also from Pipistrel, which feature ballistic parachutes.
Commenting on the acquisition, José Madeira, executive director of the IFA Group said: “These new aircraft meet the need to increase our fleet to meet the growing demand from students, national and international, interested in our different pilot training courses”.
With new aircraft will bring IFA fleet to a total of 27 trainers, including aircraft from Cessna, Grumman and Liberty. In addition to the aircraft fleet, the company owns two flight simulators – an Alsim ALX (for SEP and MEP instrument flight training) and a Simnest Airbus A320.
Image accredited to Pipistrel
