Looks pretty sweet.
Posted on 03/29/2011 10:17:49 AM PDT by smokingfrog
Electric airplanes are getting more numerous, with the latest making its initial flight in Augsburg, Germany. The Elektra One, developed by Calin Gologan of PC-Aero, was flown by test pilot Jon Karkow.
Since that flight, the aircraft has completed an additional three flights for up to 30 minutes. It will next be upgraded with a variable pitch prop and retractable landing gear.
Karkow was the project leader and test pilot for the around-the-world Virgin Global Flyer, and more recently served as technical program manager for the Virgin Galactic commercial space program at Scaled Composites in California.
The single-seat Elektra One is claimed to have a three-hour endurance using rechargeable batteries and a range of more than 216 nm. The aircraft has a payload of 220 pounds and claimed to cruise at 86 knots.
It is the first of a family of airplanes. The Elektra Two will carry two passengers, while the Elektra Four will carry four. Half of the design work is completed for the two-seat model.
Every electric airplane needs a solar-powered hangar, right? After all, there is a lot of battery recharging to do between flights. Elektra One comes with its own solar-powered hangar. The complete system, airplane and hangar, will enter the market at a goal price of $141,300, a variable price based on the Euro.
The aircraft will first be offered in Germany in the Ultralight class, or it can be sold in the US as Experimental when it comes to market. Eventually it will be sold as a U.S. light sport aircraft, when ASTM standards are completed for electric aircraft. That could take one to two years, designer Gologan said in a telephone interview from Germany. Gologan will complete German and ASTM certification, and then sell the project to Neo Wings for serious production.
(Excerpt) Read more at aopa.org ...
I believe this is what George Jetson drove to work.
Looks pretty sweet.
Effective range 30 NM just like a dolt?
Does the emergency rubber band run between the legs.
Unfortunately, by the time they get a 4 seater out, who knows what the price will be.
Three hour endurance.
Think how quiet this puppy is. Man, you can scare the #@*#@& out of geese.
I’d bet the farm this dog has a ballistic recovery system and I still wouldn’t get on board.
King sized Air Hogg.
Being electric and flying, I have to wonder why there is no “solar panel” molded into the composite structure to charge the batteries while flying. Solar Cells are light in weight and it is a VFR plane afterall. Anyway, $141K is rediculously expensive.
Not on a bet would I get on board.
Is it coin operated?
We were going to use a ceramic electric motor of 300 HP powered by 6 of the fuel cells( about 1.5 cubic feet each. It took about 15 minutes to fire up one, then fire up the rest so a minimum of 1/2 hour before flight. Efficency was about 52 to 60%. Total weight of system was the same as a IO 550 with he same HP.
So with equal fuel loads range was doubled, and no altitude penalty.
One killer problem - The fuel cells cost about $60,000 each and the capillary system in the internal ceramic would plug with the contaminants in the kerosene fairly quickly.
I think GM produced a few fuel cell powered cars in the 70’s - Oh well - maybe fusion will work someday.
Was wondering the same exact thing. Lots of surface area for cells.
You wouldn’t need $650 dollar Bose headsets.
Looking at the size of the craft, you may be able to make 300 watts in full sun.
I don’t know how big the batteries are or the power usage but during a 3 hour flight, solar cells would only add another kilowatt hour under optimum conditions.
I suppose if you ran out of juice out in the desert, you could recharge the batteries after a few days and fly out.
So that 2 hours flying time with ample landing reserved at 85 knots effective range 150 miles ...maybe 180 with tailwind..
Think glider!
It includes a hangar with solar panels. I have a friend that factory built a Glassair Sportsman and by the time he got done getting avionics he was over $200k. It’s a really nice airplane, though.
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