The Ajdovščina-based aircraft developer Pipistrel has loaned one of its electric aircraft to be displayed at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, US, Pipistrel has announced.

The two-seat trainer aircraft, Velis Electro, is due to go on display at the NASM next year. It will be on loan for three years, according to Pipistrel, a company founded by Ivo Boscarol in 1989 and sold to US aviation company Textron in 2022.

"We celebrate the National Air and Space Museum's commitment to shaping the future of aviation through innovative collaborations and educational initiatives," said Kriya Shortt, president and CEO of Textron eAviation.

She believes this contribution represents a major milestone in actively promoting sustainable aviation technology to educate the next generation of aviators. It also strengthens the company's position as "leaders in reducing the industry's impact on the environment".

"As we endeavour to tell stories about innovations occurring right now in aerospace, Textron eAviation's loan of a Pipistrel Velis Electro allows us to explore the topic of sustainability efforts in aviation," said NASM curator Roger Connor.

Velis Electro is the world's first certified electric aircraft. It received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2020, and light-sport aircraft airworthiness exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration in March 2024.