Pipistrel Nuuva V300 makes first flight

February 1, 2025

Pipistrel has made the first successful hover of its hybrid-electric Nuuva V300 VTOL craft, commencing a flight test campaign that will soon see a second uncrewed aircraft join the programme later this year.
The Textron eAviation subsidiary is developing the remotely-piloted, long-range, large-capacity hybrid-electric VTOL to carry a 600 pound payload over a range of up to 300 nautical miles. With a nose-loading capability for ease of loading and unloading, the Nuuva V300 can offer a payload capacity of over 100 cubic feet, including up to three cargo pallets.
Textron eAviation president and CEO Kriya Shortt explained that the “Nuuvva V300’s unique capabilities and robust design will not only transform logistics but also play a crucial role in commercial and defence missions such as search and rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and ship-to-shore deliveries”.
The aircraft employs a zero-emission electric vertical take-off powertrain and separate dedicated cruise propulsion system, with the in-house-developed proprietary battery systems “ensuring efficient, sustainable and cost-effective performance,” explained Pipistrel. “The Nuuva’s first flight demonstrates Pipistrel’s strength in electric propulsion and dedication to advancing the aviation industry,” added Pipistrel president and managing director Gabrel Massey.
Nuuva V300’s eight independent battery-powered Pipistrel E-811 electric engines are already type certified by EASA – the same powerplant featuring in Pipistrel’s Velis Electro, the first ever type-certified, electric-powered aircraft. It is augmented by one FADEC IC engine, offering an economy cruise speed of 89kts and a typical mission range of 300km.
The first V300 is powered by a Honeywell-supplied fly-by-wire, triple-redundant flight control system, and is equipped with automatic Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities. It is remotely operated by an operator at a ground control station, leveraging Textron Systems’ decades of experience in designing, developing and manufacturing uncrewed command and control systems.