A world first - H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco flies electric

On Tuesday 14 September 2021, H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco became the first Head of State to fly in an electric plane when he joined eco-explorer and pilot, Raphaël Domjan, for a flight out of Nice-Côte d’Azur airport onboard a Pipistrel Velis. The Monegasque monarch enjoyed a 30-minute CO2 emission and noise free flight over the Principality.

On Tuesday 14 September 2021, H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco became the first Head of State to fly electric when he took off from Nice-Côte d’Azur airport onboard a Pipistrel Velis, an electric aircraft used by many French flying schools for basic pilot training. Pilot, sailor, and eco-explorer, Raphaël Domjan, who completed the first solar-powered circumnavigation onboard the catamaran PlanetSolar and who pilots the solar-powered aircraft SolarStratos, was at the controls.

A 30-minute flight without CO2 emissions

Convinced of the need for an energy transition that will alleviate our dependency on fossil fuels to preserve our planet's climate, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco fully appreciated a flight that was CO2 emissions and noise free.

Alighting from the plane back at Nice-Côte d'Azur airport after the 30-minute flight over the Principality of Monaco, he declared himself delighted with the experience: “It was fantastic to be able to fly without emitting CO2. The development of electric aviation must continue so that tomorrow's flights can incorporate the use of electric motors, whether powered by batteries or fuel cells.”

Raphaël Domjan, sees this first flight by a Head of State in an electric plane as a strong message to all leaders around the world: "H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco has had the courage to open the way for electric aviation. I hope that this historic flight will raise awareness of this new mode of transport without CO2 emissions and that other Heads of State will follow his initiative.”

The PlanetSolar Foundation is a Swiss public utility foundation committed to the promotion of solar energy to combat climate change. The founders seek to perpetuate the philosophy behind the PlanetSolar adventure (the first solar-powered circumnavigation) that took place from 2010-2012. www.planetsolar.swiss

https://www.planetsolar.org

Elektropostal aims to:

•   promote a transition to ecological methods in the air transport sector

•   promote new energies

•   install infrastructure for recharging aircraft

  In 2020, Elektropostal flew two electric aircraft between Lausanne in Switzerland and Aix en Provence in France. In 2021, Elektropostal aims to continue to Spain following the Aéropostale route.

  Elektropostal is honoured to include Bertrand Piccard, Raphaël Domjan, Jean-François Clervoy, Jacques Rougerie, Catherine Maunoury, Raphaël Dinelli and Loïc Blaise as ambassadors.

  https://www.elektropostal.aero

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