CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Two Hampton University students got a chance to take a ride in an electric plane Friday.
The Forgetten Heroes Foundation (FHF) hosted a group of students from the university Oct. 11 in partnership with the Department of Energy at the Hampton Roads Executive Airport.
The event was about showing students about advancements in technology and aviation. It started with the opportunity for two students to help fly the electric plane, owned by FHF.
“Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a pilot, and now here I am flying electric airplanes,” said Ethan Huq, one of the students who got to ride in the plane. “It actually surprised me how simple it was, like I said, because there’s a lot less stuff going on compared to just a regular general aviation aircraft.”
President and FHF co-founder Micah Lennox said that events like this are the core of their mission.
“Emerging technology is a great chance for us to continue to inspire,” Lenox said.
Lenox said the plane is a Pipistrel Velis Electro.
“It was built in Slovenia [and] it has a 65-kilowatt motor,” Lenox said. “It’s only two person and it’s very lightweight. And it’s lightweight for a reason. The design of the aircraft and some of the restrictions and regulations require us to be below a certain a certain weight with the aircraft.”
Huq said he will never forget what it was like to help fly it and hopes to come back soon to do it again.
“It’s a very inspirational opportunity to come out here and do this,” Huq said, “very thankful, very blessed.”
To read more about FHF and the electric plane, visit their website here.