Video: Whale watching via electric plane

Gary Freedman from ElectricAir took David Carne from Meridian Energy for a flight in New Zealand’s first electric plane, spotting a southern right whale and calf just off the North Canterbury coast.

While the Pipistrel Alpha Electro is available for trial flights and pilot training from Rangiora Airfield, Canterbury, Freedman says whale spotting isn’t guaranteed but a low emission, clean, quiet and fun experience is.

Meridian Energy is ElectricAir’s power supplier, the Pipistrel generally flying out of Christchurch Airport with the start-up launching in late 2020.

ElectricAir is also supported by the Christchurch City Council and Airways.

The electric aircraft is certainly quiet enough not to scare whales.

Perhaps aerial whale watching could become a spin-off?