Two e-aircraft on display in Christchurch April 17 & 18

A self-flying electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi and New Zealand’s first e-aircraft will be displayed at Christchurch’s main public library (Tūranga) this weekend.

“Take Charge Christchurch”, organised by the Christchurch City Council, is being held on the ground floor to showcase how emerging battery electric aircraft technologies could change the future of aviation and mobility.

Two public presentations are at 11am and 1pm on Saturday April 17 where people can hear from Wisk NZ about its Cora eVTOL and Christchurch-based ElectricAir on its Pipistrel Electro battery electric aircraft about how their zero exhaust emission aircraft could change the way we travel.

Wisk’s air taxi, being trialled in Canterbury, will be on public display in New Zealand for the first time at the event.

All those who attend the Saturday presentations can go into a draw to win a free flight in ElectricAir’s battery electric aircraft – one draw per presentation.

Meanwhile, UDC marketing head Robert Orr has won a trip in the Pipistrel in a lucky draw at The EVent – the EVs and Beyond conference on Waiheke Island on April 12 and 13, after a video presentation from ElectricAir founder Gary Freedman.

Freedman explained some of the challenges facing the fledgling e-aviation industry.

Christchurch City Council resource efficiency manager Kevin Crutchley says people at the presentations can hear about these e-aircraft and the contribution they will make to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,

“These new battery electric aircraft are pioneering an entirely new way to fly. We’re pleased to be giving the public a chance to see what the future of travel might look like at Take Charge Christchurch,’’ he says.

While there will be no public presentations on Sunday, Wisk’s air taxi will remain on display.

Wisk Asia Pacific region director Anna Kominik says the aircraft has spent a lot of time flight testing over the Mackenzie Basin.

“At Wisk we think urban air mobility solutions, such as our all-electric, self-flying air taxi, represent an exciting evolution in transport and will change the way we get around – a way that saves you time, offers you comfort, and is kinder to the planet.”

In fact, Freedman says he saw Cora in the air while he was travelling in his Pipistrel.

He says his two-seater e-aircraft is 70% quieter than conventional planes.

Take Charge Christchurch is open from 10am to 4pm on April 17 while Wisk’s air taxi is also displayed on Sunday during Tūranga’s opening hours.