Electric airplane
Encyclopedia
An electric aircraft is an aircraft
that runs on electric motor
s rather than internal combustion engine
s, with electricity
coming from fuel cell
s, solar cell
s, ultracapacitors, power beaming, and/or batteries
.
Currently flying electric aircraft are mostly experimental demonstrators, including manned and unmanned aerial vehicle
s. Electrically powered model aircraft have been flown since the 1970s, with one report in 1957.
was the first to use electric motors in airship
propulsion. The following year, Charles Renard
and Arthur Krebs flew La France
with a more powerful motor.
Nikola Tesla
envisaged using electrically powered aircraft, powered by beams from the ground or the ionosphere.
Electric motors have been used for model fixed-wing aircraft since from at least 1957, with a challenged claim from 1909.
In 1964 William C. Brown
demonstrates on CBS News with Walter Cronkite a model helicopter that receives all of the power needed for flight from a microwave beam.
In 1973, Fred Militky and Heino Brditschka converted an HB-3 to an electric aircraft. Heino flew it for 14 minutes that same year.
In 2007 the non-profit CAFE Foundation
held the first Electric Aircraft Symposium in San Francisco.
In 2009, a team from the Turin Polytechnic University made a conversion of a Pioneer Alpi 300. It flew 250km/h for 14 minutes.
By 2011 the use of electric power for aircraft was gaining momentum. At AirVenture in that year the Electric Aircraft World Symposium was held and attracted wide attention. It was sponsored by GE Aviation and included presentations by US Air Force, NASA
, Sikorsky Aircraft
, Argonne National Labs and the US Federal Aviation Administration
.
, the result of an ARPA contract, made the world's first solar-powered flight from Bicycle Lake, a dry lakebed on the Fort Irwin Military Reservation
, on 4 November 1974. The improved Sunrise II flew on 27 September 1975 at Nellis AFB.
was built by Larry Mauro and was based on the UFM Easy Riser
biplane hang glider. The aircraft used photovoltaic cells that produced 350 watts at 30 volts, which charged a Hughes 500 helicopter battery, which in turn powered the electric motor. The aircraft was capable of powering the motor for 3 to 5 minutes, following a 1.5-hour charge, enabling it to reach a gliding altitude.
was designed by David Williams under the direction of Freddie To, an architect and member of the Kremer prize committee and produced by Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments. A motor-glider type aircraft originally built as a pedal powered airplane to attempt the Channel crossing, the airplane proved too heavy to be successfully powered by human power and was then converted to solar power, using an electric motor driven by batteries that were charged before flight by a solar cell array on the wing. The maiden flight of Solar One took place at Lasham Airfield; Hampshire on June 13, 1979, one day after Brian Allen had successfully pedalled the Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel.
, a smaller version of the human powered Gossamer Albatross
was completely solar powered. A second prototype, the Solar Challenger
, flew 262 km (162.8 mi) from Paris to England. On 7 July 1981, the aircraft, under solar-power, flew 163 miles from Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport near Paris
across the English Channel
to RAF Manston
near London
, flying for 5:23. Designed by Dr. Paul MacCready
the Solar Challenger set an altitude record of 14,300 feet.
, Germany
on 21 August 1983. It flew for 5 hours and 41 minutes, "mostly on solar energy and also thermals". The aircraft is now displayed at the German Museum in Munich
. The newly developed piloted Solair II made its first flight in May 1998 and further test flights that summer but the propulsion system overheated too fast. Development stopped when Günther Rochelt suddenly died in September 1998.
, Inc. developed the vehicle under NASA
's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program.
. It used a small battery charged by solar cells on the wing to drive a propeller
for takeoff, and then flew on direct solar power and took advantage of soaring conditions when possible.
The Sunseeker II, built in 2002, was updated in 2005-2006 with a more powerful motor, larger wing, lithium battery packs and updated control electronics. As of Dec, 2008 it was the only manned solar powered airplane in flying condition and is operated regularly by Solar Flight. In 2009 it became the first solar-powered aircraft to cross the Alps
, 99 years after the first crossing of the Alps by an aircraft.
, Kevlar
and wood. The design uses winglet
s to increase the effective wing span and reduce induced drag.
DC/DC brushless motor and lithium-ion batteries. It can climb up to 3,000 meters with fully charged cells.. The first flight was in 2003. The Antares 20E was the first aircraft with an electric propulsion system to obtain a certificate of airworthiness. The same goes for the propulsion system (EA 42). The aircraft is currently in series production with more than 50 aircraft delivered. In 2011 the aircraft won the 2011 Berblinger competition, an ambitious aerial challenge for “green” aircraft.
, flew an unmanned airplane for 48 hours non-stop, propelled entirely by solar energy. This was the first such around-the-clock flight, on energy stored in the batteries mounted on the plane.
prototype was made on 3 December 2009.
In its present configuration it has a wingspan of 210 ft (64 m), weighs 3500 lb (1,588 kg) and is powered by four 10 hp electric motors. The aircraft has over 11,000 solar cells on its wings and horizontal stabilizer. Power from the solar cells is stored in lithium polymer batteries and used to drive 3.5 metres (11 ft) propellers turning at a speed of 200–400 rpm. Take-off speed is 19 knots (37 km/h) and cruising speed is 60 kn (118 km/h).
The aircraft had its first high flight on 7 April 2010, when it flew to an altitude of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) in a 1.5-hour flight on battery power alone. The Solar Impulse team is planning to use the aircraft to circumnavigate the globe in 2012.
The aircraft first flew on purely solar power, charging its batteries in flight, on 28 May 2010
On 8 July 2010 it completed the first manned 24-hour flight completely powered by solar power.
. Test pilot Christian Vandamme flew the strut-equipped aircraft for 48 minutes, covering 50 km (31.1 mi). The Electra is powered by an 18-kW (24 hp) disk-brush electrical motor driven by a 47 kg (104 lb) lithium polymer battery power pack.
cells and successfully flew it for a distance of 391 metres (1,282.8 ft) in July, 2006.
The FCD (Fuel Cell Demonstrator) is a project led by Boeing
that uses a Diamond HK-36 Super Dimona motor glider
as a test bed for a fuel cell powered light airplane research project.
Successful test flights took place in February and March 2008.
Boeing's partners in the project are Intelligent Energy of Britain (fuel-cell); Diamond Aircraft of Austria (Airframe); Spanish Sener (control system); Spanish Aerlyper (integrate motor with airframe); Advanced Technology Products, a U.S. company (motor, batteries, flight testing).
is a lightweight solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle
engineered by the United Kingdom defence firm, QinetiQ
. As of 23 July 2010 it holds the endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle of over 2 weeks (336 hours).
It is of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
construction, the 2010 version weighing 50 kg (110 lb)
(the 2008 version weighed 30 kg (66 lb)) with a span
of 22.5 metres (the 2008 version had 18 metres (59 feet)). It uses sunlight to charge lithium-sulphur batteries during the day, which power the aircraft at night. The aircraft has been designed for use in observation and communications relay.
The 2008 Zephyr version flew for 82 hours, reaching 61,000 foot in altitude in July 2008, the then unofficial world record for the longest duration unmanned flight. In July 2010 the 2010 version of the Zephyr made a world record unmanned aerial vehicle endurance flight of 336 hours, 22 minutes and 8 seconds (more than two weeks) and also set an altitude record of 70,000 feet.
. The two-seat Pioneer Alpi 300 has a 75 kW brushless electric motor powered by lithium polymer batteries. The aircraft achieved a world record of 250 km/h (155 mph) for a human-carrying electric aircraft on 12 June 2009.
. The project leader and chief designer was Danny H. Y. Li.
unveiled an electric version of the 1970s vintage Colomban Cri-cri ultralight aircraft powered by four electric engines. The Cri-Cri will have lithium batteries and will be able to fly for 30 minutes at 60 kn (118 km/h) or 15 minutes of aerobatics
at speeds up to 135 kn (265 km/h), with a climb rate of 1,000 feet per minute. The aircraft is a demonstrator for future technology, as Jean Botti, EADS's chief technical officer explained: "The Cri-Cri is a low-cost test bed for system integration of electrical technologies in support of projects like our hybrid propulsion concept for helicopters." The Cri-Cri first flew on 2 September 2010 at Le Bourget airport
near Paris
.
Germany for the 10–17 July 2011 Green Flight Challenge in Santa Rosa, California
. The design has similarities to their earlier solar powered aircraft Icaré II and seems to share most of the components with the fuel-cell powered Hydrogenius. The aircraft is a converted motorglider and uses a tail-mounted 80 hp electric motor. The e-Genius performed its first 20 minute flight on 25 May 2011. In July 2011 the aircraft flew for over two hours between two points near Mindelheim
, Germany
, at an average speed of more than 100 mph (161 km/h).
, to study and demonstrate an all-electric aircraft with fuel-cells as the main or auxiliary power system. During the three year project, a fuel-cell based power system was designed and flown in a Rapid 200FC ultralight aircraft.
is a proposed hover-capable, electric-powered, low-noise, personal, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology-concept, proprotor
aircraft
. It would be capable of flying a single person at a speed of 150 miles per hour. Range is expected to be less than 50 miles with initial battery technology
. The design has a 13.5 foot wingspan
and stands 12 feet tall on the ground in its take-off or landing configuration
.
, a one third–size, hover-capable Puffin demonstrator was planned for March 2010. Future designs might incorporate additional rotors to provide redundant systems.
, the one-third scale model of the Puffin was on display at the NASA Langley campus for filming for the Discovery network
series “Dean of Invention
.” The Puffin simulator was also demonstrated. The Puffin will appear in the eighth and final episode of the show.
unveiled their Taurus G4 dual fuselage, four seat, single engine experimental aircraft that demonstrated the equivalent of 400 passenger miles per gallon
efficiency. The aircraft joins two sailplane fuselages, with two seats each, with a single tractor configuration
electric motor mounted between the fuselages. The aircraft carries 1100 lb (499 kg) of Lithium polymer batteries. The aircraft has a 75 ft (22.9 m) wing and has a gross take-off weight of 3300 lb (1,497 kg), making it the heaviest manned electric-powered aircraft built to date. It has a glide ratio of over 30:1 at 100 mph (161 km/h). The G4 first flew on 12 August 2011 and won the NASA Green Flight Challenge on 3 October 2011.
designer Dale Kramer introduced an experimental electric-powered Lazair on an amphibious mono-float, with outrigger floats at AirVenture. The aircraft is powered by twin Bevirt JM1 Joby model aircraft
powerplants and dual 16 cell 4 amp-hour battery packs that produce 63 volts, mounted in the the wings. The aircraft won Antique Ultralight Champion and Best Ultralight Amphibian at AirVenture. The aircraft is an experimental project and no production is planned.
self-launching sailplane. It was first tested in 1997. It is optionally driven by a 13 kW DC electric motor running on 40 kg (88 lb) of batteries that store 1.4 kWh of energy.
brand name, to convert existing ultralight aircraft to electric power, in what is the first commercial offering of an electric aircraft.
The 18 hp engine package weighs 26 lbs and an efficiency of 90% is claimed by the company. The battery consists of two lithium-polymer battery packs which provides 1.5 hours of flying in the trike
application.
In January 2008 the company introduced their new ElectraFlyer-C at the Sebring Light Sport Aircraft Show. This aircraft is a converted Monnett Moni motor glider
equipped with an 18-hp electric motor, regenerative-braking-capable controller package and two lithium polymer battery packs. The engine weighs 29 lbs and the battery packs weigh 78 lbs total. The aircraft has a climb rate of 500 ft/min, cruise of 70 mph and an endurance of 90 minutes. It is capable of being recharged from a 110-volt source in six hours or from a 220 volt source in two hours. The aircraft began flying in May 2008 and was demonstrated before the crowds on August 2 at AirVenture 2008.
In April 2009 the ElectraFlyer-C prototype was offered for sale on eBay
. The designer intends to use the funds from the sale, plus a Lindbergh Foundation grant of $10,580 to complete two-place design that will eventually qualify for Light-sport aircraft
status. The new design will incorporate composite construction, detachable wingtips to aid storage and will be powered by a 50 hp electric motor. Its design goals include a 28:1 glide ratio and a cruise speed of 80 mph (129 km/h) for two hours.
Electraflyer president Randall Fishman announced in April 2010 that the company's latest model, the Electraflyer-X, would fly in May or June 2010. The aircraft will be a two-seater and will utilize a new 20 hp single rotor electric powerplant. Fishman is also developing 40 hp two-rotor and 60 hp three rotor engine designs.
announced that they are working on a series of alternate power initiatives, including an electric-powered aircraft. The electric powered Waiex motor glider
was first flown in December 2010 and is powered by a 54 kW brushless DC electric motor, managed by a newly designed controller. Power is from a collection of 14.5 kW-hour lithium polymer batteries, giving the aircraft an endurance of one hour at low-speed cruise or 15 minutes of aerobatics. This power system is being developed for the Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft
, which will be available as a kit.
aircraft was announced in 2009. The Yuneec International E430 is a two seat, V tailed, composite aircraft with a high-aspect ratio wing. Take-off speed is 40 mph and top speed is 93 mph. The aircraft is being developed as a homebuilt aircraft
for the US market.
The prototype E430 was displayed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2009, by which time it had flown over 22 hours. The company claims that the battery packs have an expected lifespan of 1500 hours and cost US$
7000 each, with the aircraft carrying 3-5 battery packs, giving two to two and half hours' endurance. The batteries can be recharged in 3 hours. The company projects that by the time the first customers require replacement battery packs that improved and less expensive ones will be available. Projected price for a commercially available light sport aircraft production version of the E430 is US$89,000.
president Tom Peghiny of South Woodstock, Connecticut
, USA
in cooperation with electric engine manufacturer Yuneec. The aircraft replaces the Spyder's two-stroke engine with a Yuneec 20 kW electric motor and two 28 lb (13 kg) lithium-polymer battery packs which provide a 40 minute endurance. The aircraft was exhibited at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2009 and is intended as a commercially available kit plane
, forecast to be available for under US$25,000.
The Lange Antares 20E is a self-launching motor glider
with a 42-kW electric motor and SAFT VL 41M lithium-ion batteries. The motor actuates 2-blade fixed pitch propeller. It can climb up to 3,000 meters with fully charged cells. After launch it can function as a conventional, though heavy, glider
. , over 50 had been built.
announced it was developing an electrically powered Cessna 172
as a proof-of-concept in partnership with Bye Energy. Cessna CEO Jack Pelton stated that the project reflects "encouraging news for the future of mainstream general aviation." Pelton pointed out "the electric power plant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there."
. The single seat composite aircraft had its first flight in early 2011. The Elektra One is powered by a 21 hp electric motor and is expected to have an endurance of three hours, with a 100 mph (161 km/h) top speed.
The company is planning a whole line of aircraft including a version of the Elektra One with longer wings and built-in solar panels and an aerobatic
version with double Elektra One's power and airframe strength. The company is also planning two and four seat developments.
batteries for a 17-minute climb, after which the engine is retracted and the aircraft then soars as a sailplane. In April 2011 the Taurus won the 2011 Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize for "best electric aircraft" at the Aero show held in Friedrichshafen
, Germany
.
called regenerative soaring. In this approach, a propeller, using symmetrical blade sections, would be used as a turbine to recharge stored energy when the aircraft encounters an updraft. At high altitudes, the energy available from vertical atmospheric motion within a thermal can exceed available solar power by a factor of ten or more.
Another proposed electric aircraft concept is the EADS VoltAir. It could be made within 25 years and features liquid nitrogen cooling for the engine.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
that runs on electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
s rather than internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s, with electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
coming from fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s, solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
s, ultracapacitors, power beaming, and/or batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
.
Currently flying electric aircraft are mostly experimental demonstrators, including manned and unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s. Electrically powered model aircraft have been flown since the 1970s, with one report in 1957.
History
In 1883 Gaston TissandierGaston Tissandier
Gaston Tissandier was a French chemist, meteorologist, aviator and editor. Adventurer could be added to the list of his titles, as he managed to escape besieged Paris by balloon in September 1870. He founded and edited the scientific magazine La Nature and wrote several books.His brother was...
was the first to use electric motors in airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
propulsion. The following year, Charles Renard
Charles Renard
Charles Renard was a French military engineer. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 he started work on the design of air ships at the French army aeronautical department. Together with Arthur C...
and Arthur Krebs flew La France
La France (airship)
The La France was a French Army airship launched by Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs in 1884. Collaborating with Charles Renard, Arthur Constantin Krebs piloted the first fully controlled free-flight with the La France. The long, airship, electric-powered with a 435 kg battery...
with a more powerful motor.
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
envisaged using electrically powered aircraft, powered by beams from the ground or the ionosphere.
Electric motors have been used for model fixed-wing aircraft since from at least 1957, with a challenged claim from 1909.
In 1964 William C. Brown
William C. Brown
William C. Brown was an American electrical engineer who helped to invent the crossed-field amplifier in the 1950s and also pioneered microwave power transmission in the 1960s....
demonstrates on CBS News with Walter Cronkite a model helicopter that receives all of the power needed for flight from a microwave beam.
In 1973, Fred Militky and Heino Brditschka converted an HB-3 to an electric aircraft. Heino flew it for 14 minutes that same year.
In 2007 the non-profit CAFE Foundation
CAFE Foundation
The CAFE Foundation is a U.S. non-profit aviation development and flight test organization based in Windsor, California. CAFE is an acronym for "Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency". The organization promotes experimental aviation activities which promote the development of highly efficient...
held the first Electric Aircraft Symposium in San Francisco.
In 2009, a team from the Turin Polytechnic University made a conversion of a Pioneer Alpi 300. It flew 250km/h for 14 minutes.
By 2011 the use of electric power for aircraft was gaining momentum. At AirVenture in that year the Electric Aircraft World Symposium was held and attracted wide attention. It was sponsored by GE Aviation and included presentations by US Air Force, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, Sikorsky Aircraft
Sikorsky Aircraft
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Stratford, Connecticut. Its parent company is United Technologies Corporation.-History:...
, Argonne National Labs and the US Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
.
Sunrise
The 27 lb (12 kg) unmanned AstroFlight SunriseAstroFlight Sunrise
The AstroFlight Sunrise was an unmanned experimental electric aircraft technology demonstrator and the first aircraft to fly on solar power....
, the result of an ARPA contract, made the world's first solar-powered flight from Bicycle Lake, a dry lakebed on the Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin Military Reservation
Fort Irwin & the National Training Center is a major training area for the United States Military and is a census-designated place located in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Fort Irwin's...
, on 4 November 1974. The improved Sunrise II flew on 27 September 1975 at Nellis AFB.
Solar Riser
The world’s first official flight in a solar powered, man carrying aircraft took place on April 29, 1979. The Mauro Solar RiserMauro Solar Riser
|-See also:-External links:*...
was built by Larry Mauro and was based on the UFM Easy Riser
UFM Easy Riser
-See also:-External links:*...
biplane hang glider. The aircraft used photovoltaic cells that produced 350 watts at 30 volts, which charged a Hughes 500 helicopter battery, which in turn powered the electric motor. The aircraft was capable of powering the motor for 3 to 5 minutes, following a 1.5-hour charge, enabling it to reach a gliding altitude.
Solar One
The Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments Solar OneSolar-Powered Aircraft Developments Solar One
|-See also:-External links:*...
was designed by David Williams under the direction of Freddie To, an architect and member of the Kremer prize committee and produced by Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments. A motor-glider type aircraft originally built as a pedal powered airplane to attempt the Channel crossing, the airplane proved too heavy to be successfully powered by human power and was then converted to solar power, using an electric motor driven by batteries that were charged before flight by a solar cell array on the wing. The maiden flight of Solar One took place at Lasham Airfield; Hampshire on June 13, 1979, one day after Brian Allen had successfully pedalled the Gossamer Albatross across the English Channel.
Gossamer Penguin and Solar Challenger
The Gossamer PenguinGossamer Penguin
|-References:...
, a smaller version of the human powered Gossamer Albatross
Gossamer Albatross
-See also:-Further reading:*Allen, Bryan. Winged Victory of "Gossamer Albatross". National Geographic, November 1979, vol. 156, n. 5, p. 640-651...
was completely solar powered. A second prototype, the Solar Challenger
Solar Challenger
|-See also:-External links:*...
, flew 262 km (162.8 mi) from Paris to England. On 7 July 1981, the aircraft, under solar-power, flew 163 miles from Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
to RAF Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, flying for 5:23. Designed by Dr. Paul MacCready
Paul MacCready
Paul B. MacCready, Jr. was an American aeronautical engineer. He was the founder of AeroVironment and the designer of the human-powered aircraft that won the Kremer prize...
the Solar Challenger set an altitude record of 14,300 feet.
Solair 1
The human piloted Solair 1 was developed by Günther Rochelt and based on a Farner canard design. It employed 2499 wing-mounted solar cells giving an output of between 1.8 kW and 2.2 kW. The aircraft first flew at UnterwössenUnterwössen
Unterwössen is a municipality in the district of Traunstein in Bavaria, Germany.-References:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on 21 August 1983. It flew for 5 hours and 41 minutes, "mostly on solar energy and also thermals". The aircraft is now displayed at the German Museum in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. The newly developed piloted Solair II made its first flight in May 1998 and further test flights that summer but the propulsion system overheated too fast. Development stopped when Günther Rochelt suddenly died in September 1998.
NASA Pathfinder and Helios
NASA's Pathfinder and Helios were a series of solar and fuel cell system-powered unmanned aircraft. AeroVironmentAeroVironment
AeroVironment Inc. is a technology company in Monrovia, California, and Simi Valley, California, that is primarily involved in energy systems, electric vehicle systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles . Paul B. MacCready, Jr., a famous designer of human powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971...
, Inc. developed the vehicle under NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program.
1990s
Sunseeker
In 1990 the solar powered airplane Sunseeker successfully flew across the USA, piloted by Eric RaymondEric Scott Raymond
Eric Raymond is a Certified Flight Instructor, Glider pilot, hang gliding pilot and Designer of Solar powered Aircraft. University education in Photography and Aerospace engineering...
. It used a small battery charged by solar cells on the wing to drive a propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
for takeoff, and then flew on direct solar power and took advantage of soaring conditions when possible.
The Sunseeker II, built in 2002, was updated in 2005-2006 with a more powerful motor, larger wing, lithium battery packs and updated control electronics. As of Dec, 2008 it was the only manned solar powered airplane in flying condition and is operated regularly by Solar Flight. In 2009 it became the first solar-powered aircraft to cross the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, 99 years after the first crossing of the Alps by an aircraft.
Soaring
China's first solar powered aircraft "Soaring" was designed and built by Danny H. Y. Li and Zhao Yong in 1992. The body and wings are hand-built predominantly of carbon fiberCarbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
, Kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
and wood. The design uses winglet
Winglet
Wingtip devices are usually intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft. There are several types of wingtip devices, and though they function in different manners, the intended effect is always to reduce the aircraft's drag by partial recovery of the tip vortex energy...
s to increase the effective wing span and reduce induced drag.
Icaré II
The German solar powered aircraft "Icaré II" was designed and built by the institute of aircraft design (Institut für Flugzeugbau) of the University of Stuttgart in 1996. The leader of the project and often pilot of the aircraft is Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann the head of the institute. The design won the Berblinger prize in 1996, the EAA Special Achievement Award in Oshkosh, the Golden Daidalos Medal of the German Aeroclub and the OSTIV-Prize in France in 1997.LF20
Built by Lange Flugzeugbau GmbH, the LF20 was a heavily modified DG800. First flown in 07.05.1999, the aircraft was used as a flying testbed and technology demonstrator. Powered by NiMh cells and using the same EA42 propulsion system as the later Antares 20E, the LF20 could climb 1725 m on one charge.Antares 20E
The Antares 20E is an electric, self-launching sailplane with a 42-kWKw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
DC/DC brushless motor and lithium-ion batteries. It can climb up to 3,000 meters with fully charged cells.. The first flight was in 2003. The Antares 20E was the first aircraft with an electric propulsion system to obtain a certificate of airworthiness. The same goes for the propulsion system (EA 42). The aircraft is currently in series production with more than 50 aircraft delivered. In 2011 the aircraft won the 2011 Berblinger competition, an ambitious aerial challenge for “green” aircraft.
Alan Cocconi
In 2005 Alan Cocconi, who founded the California (USA) electric-propulsion research company AC PropulsionAC Propulsion
AC Propulsion is a San Dimas, California, USA company founded in 1992 by Alan Cocconi that specialises in alternating current-based drivetrain systems for electric vehicles. Tom Gage is currently the company's CEO. The company produces goods such as electric vehicle drive systems and their top of...
, flew an unmanned airplane for 48 hours non-stop, propelled entirely by solar energy. This was the first such around-the-clock flight, on energy stored in the batteries mounted on the plane.
Solar Impulse
The first short-hop (350m) test flight of the Solar ImpulseSolar Impulse
Solar Impulse is a Swiss long-range solar powered plane project being undertaken at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. The project eventually hopes to succeed in the first circling of the earth with a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar...
prototype was made on 3 December 2009.
In its present configuration it has a wingspan of 210 ft (64 m), weighs 3500 lb (1,588 kg) and is powered by four 10 hp electric motors. The aircraft has over 11,000 solar cells on its wings and horizontal stabilizer. Power from the solar cells is stored in lithium polymer batteries and used to drive 3.5 metres (11 ft) propellers turning at a speed of 200–400 rpm. Take-off speed is 19 knots (37 km/h) and cruising speed is 60 kn (118 km/h).
The aircraft had its first high flight on 7 April 2010, when it flew to an altitude of 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) in a 1.5-hour flight on battery power alone. The Solar Impulse team is planning to use the aircraft to circumnavigate the globe in 2012.
The aircraft first flew on purely solar power, charging its batteries in flight, on 28 May 2010
On 8 July 2010 it completed the first manned 24-hour flight completely powered by solar power.
APAME Electra
The Association pour la Promotion des Aéronefs à Motorisation Électrique (APAME) (English: Association for the Promotion of Electric Powered Aircraft) first flew its Electra electric-powered open-cockpit airplane at 1150 hrs (local) on Sunday, 23 December 2007 at Aspres sur Buech airfield, Hautes Alpes, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Test pilot Christian Vandamme flew the strut-equipped aircraft for 48 minutes, covering 50 km (31.1 mi). The Electra is powered by an 18-kW (24 hp) disk-brush electrical motor driven by a 47 kg (104 lb) lithium polymer battery power pack.
First manned AA battery powered aircraft
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and undergraduates at the Tokyo Institute of Technology teamed up to build an aircraft powered by 160 AA batteryAA battery
An AA battery is a standard size of battery. Batteries of this size are the most commonly used type of in portable electronic devices. An AA battery is composed of a single electrochemical cell...
cells and successfully flew it for a distance of 391 metres (1,282.8 ft) in July, 2006.
Boeing-FCD Project
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
that uses a Diamond HK-36 Super Dimona motor glider
Motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,...
as a test bed for a fuel cell powered light airplane research project.
Successful test flights took place in February and March 2008.
Boeing's partners in the project are Intelligent Energy of Britain (fuel-cell); Diamond Aircraft of Austria (Airframe); Spanish Sener (control system); Spanish Aerlyper (integrate motor with airframe); Advanced Technology Products, a U.S. company (motor, batteries, flight testing).
QinetiQ Zephyr
The QinetiQ ZephyrQinetiQ Zephyr
Zephyr is a lightweight solar-powered UAV which was originally designed and built by the QQ1 "Edge of Space" team who were sponsored by the United Kingdom defence firm, Qinetiq. It is of carbon-fibre construction, and uses sunlight to charge a lithium sulphur battery during the day, which powers...
is a lightweight solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
engineered by the United Kingdom defence firm, QinetiQ
QinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
. As of 23 July 2010 it holds the endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle of over 2 weeks (336 hours).
It is of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic , is a very strong and light fiber-reinforced polymer which contains carbon fibers. The polymer is most often epoxy, but other polymers, such as polyester, vinyl ester or nylon, are sometimes used...
construction, the 2010 version weighing 50 kg (110 lb)
(the 2008 version weighed 30 kg (66 lb)) with a span
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
of 22.5 metres (the 2008 version had 18 metres (59 feet)). It uses sunlight to charge lithium-sulphur batteries during the day, which power the aircraft at night. The aircraft has been designed for use in observation and communications relay.
The 2008 Zephyr version flew for 82 hours, reaching 61,000 foot in altitude in July 2008, the then unofficial world record for the longest duration unmanned flight. In July 2010 the 2010 version of the Zephyr made a world record unmanned aerial vehicle endurance flight of 336 hours, 22 minutes and 8 seconds (more than two weeks) and also set an altitude record of 70,000 feet.
SkySpark
The SkySpark is a joint project of engineering company DigiSky and Polytechnic University of TurinPolytechnic University of Turin
The Polytechnic University of Turin is an engineering university based in Turin, northern Italy. Established in 1859, Politecnico di Torino is Italy’s oldest Technical University. In 2011 it was ranked as the best engineering university in Italy in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.It is...
. The two-seat Pioneer Alpi 300 has a 75 kW brushless electric motor powered by lithium polymer batteries. The aircraft achieved a world record of 250 km/h (155 mph) for a human-carrying electric aircraft on 12 June 2009.
Green Pioneer Ι
The Green Pioneer solar powered aircraft research programme was announced at the 4th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in 2002. The experimental programme was intended to provide research data for future Chinese solar powered aircraft. The programme was run by New Concept Aircraft (Zhuhai), the China Aviation Industry Development Research Center, and China Academy of Space TechnologyChina Academy of Space Technology
The China Academy of Space Technology is an organizational unit of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation .CAST designs and manufactures Dong Fang Hong satellites.- External links :...
. The project leader and chief designer was Danny H. Y. Li.
EADS Cri-Cri
In June 2010 European aerospace company EADSEADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
unveiled an electric version of the 1970s vintage Colomban Cri-cri ultralight aircraft powered by four electric engines. The Cri-Cri will have lithium batteries and will be able to fly for 30 minutes at 60 kn (118 km/h) or 15 minutes of aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
at speeds up to 135 kn (265 km/h), with a climb rate of 1,000 feet per minute. The aircraft is a demonstrator for future technology, as Jean Botti, EADS's chief technical officer explained: "The Cri-Cri is a low-cost test bed for system integration of electrical technologies in support of projects like our hybrid propulsion concept for helicopters." The Cri-Cri first flew on 2 September 2010 at Le Bourget airport
Le Bourget Airport
Paris – Le Bourget Airport is an airport located in Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, and Dugny, north-northeast of Paris, France. It is now used only for general aviation as well as air shows...
near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
e-Genius
The battery powered "e-Genius" was designed and built by the Institute of Aircraft Design (Institut für Flugzeugbau) of the University of StuttgartUniversity of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
Germany for the 10–17 July 2011 Green Flight Challenge in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. The design has similarities to their earlier solar powered aircraft Icaré II and seems to share most of the components with the fuel-cell powered Hydrogenius. The aircraft is a converted motorglider and uses a tail-mounted 80 hp electric motor. The e-Genius performed its first 20 minute flight on 25 May 2011. In July 2011 the aircraft flew for over two hours between two points near Mindelheim
Mindelheim
Mindelheim is a town in the German Bundesland of Bavaria. The town is the capital of the Unterallgäu district. At various points in history it was the chief settlement of an eponymous state.- Geography :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at an average speed of more than 100 mph (161 km/h).
ENFICA-FC
The ENFICA-FC is a project of the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, to study and demonstrate an all-electric aircraft with fuel-cells as the main or auxiliary power system. During the three year project, a fuel-cell based power system was designed and flown in a Rapid 200FC ultralight aircraft.
Puffin
The PuffinPuffin (aircraft)
|-See also:- External links :*NASA.gov: , 2010-02-08.*, Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 2010-01-19*, Discover Magazine, 2010-01-20.*, Jason Paur, Wired, 2010-01-21.*, computer graphic video....
is a proposed hover-capable, electric-powered, low-noise, personal, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology-concept, proprotor
Proprotor
A proprotor is a spinning airfoil that is used as both an airplane-style propeller and a helicopter-style rotor during the same flight. Proprotors are typically used on vertical takeoff and landing aircraft....
aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
. It would be capable of flying a single person at a speed of 150 miles per hour. Range is expected to be less than 50 miles with initial battery technology
Lithium iron phosphate battery
The lithium iron phosphate battery, also called LFP battery, is a type of rechargeable battery, specifically a lithium-ion battery, which uses LiFePO4 as a cathode material.-History:...
. The design has a 13.5 foot wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
and stands 12 feet tall on the ground in its take-off or landing configuration
Tailsitter
A tailsitter is a type of VTOL aircraft that launches and lands on its tail. One of the most famous examples of this type of aircraft is the Ryan X-13 Vertijet. Among the propeller-driven versions were the Lockheed XFV, and the Convair XFY Pogo. Studies and wind tunnel models were made of a...
.
, a one third–size, hover-capable Puffin demonstrator was planned for March 2010. Future designs might incorporate additional rotors to provide redundant systems.
, the one-third scale model of the Puffin was on display at the NASA Langley campus for filming for the Discovery network
Discovery Network
A Discovery Network is a community that can include commercial, academic, governmental and independent entities collaborating together and coordinating their efforts to enrich society with new material goods and services, and extracting some value from doing so...
series “Dean of Invention
Dean of Invention
Dean of Invention is a television show starring Dean Kamen and Joanne Colan that premiered on Planet Green on October 22, 2010. The two explore scientific breakthroughs around the world in a variety of fields including aviation, biotechnology, energy, nanotechnology and robotics...
.” The Puffin simulator was also demonstrated. The Puffin will appear in the eighth and final episode of the show.
Pipistrel Taurus G4
In July 2011 PipistrelPipistrel
Pipistrel d.o.o Ajdovščina is a Slovenian light aircraft manufacturerbased in Ajdovščina. Its owner and director is Ivo Boscarol.- Aircraft :* Pipistrel Alpha Trainer* Pipistrel Sinus* Pipistrel Virus* Pipistrel Virus SW* Pipistrel Taurus...
unveiled their Taurus G4 dual fuselage, four seat, single engine experimental aircraft that demonstrated the equivalent of 400 passenger miles per gallon
Passenger miles per gallon
Passenger miles per gallon is a metric to evaluate the energy efficiency of a vehicle or transportation mode. The PMPG can be obtained by multiplying the miles per gallon of fuel by the passenger capacity or average occupancy...
efficiency. The aircraft joins two sailplane fuselages, with two seats each, with a single tractor configuration
Tractor configuration
thumb|right|[[Evektor-Aerotechnik|Aerotechnik EV97A Eurostar]], a tractor configuration aircraft, being pulled into position by its pilot for refuelling....
electric motor mounted between the fuselages. The aircraft carries 1100 lb (499 kg) of Lithium polymer batteries. The aircraft has a 75 ft (22.9 m) wing and has a gross take-off weight of 3300 lb (1,497 kg), making it the heaviest manned electric-powered aircraft built to date. It has a glide ratio of over 30:1 at 100 mph (161 km/h). The G4 first flew on 12 August 2011 and won the NASA Green Flight Challenge on 3 October 2011.
Luxembourg Special Aerotechnics MC30E
On 13 April 2011, during the Aero Friedrischafen show, the Luxembourg Special Aerotechnics MC30E proof-of-concept aircraft set a record for electric aircraft of 135 km/h (69 kn) over a return 15 km (8 nmi) circuit in the FAI RAL1E ID 16214 category. This aircraft was later retrofitted with a more efficient engine, in order to pursue further records in 2011.Electric Lazair
In 2011 Ultraflight LazairUltraflight Lazair
The Ultraflight Lazair is a family of Canadian designed and built twin-engine ultralight aircraft that were sold in kit form between 1979 and 1984....
designer Dale Kramer introduced an experimental electric-powered Lazair on an amphibious mono-float, with outrigger floats at AirVenture. The aircraft is powered by twin Bevirt JM1 Joby model aircraft
Model aircraft
Model aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass...
powerplants and dual 16 cell 4 amp-hour battery packs that produce 63 volts, mounted in the the wings. The aircraft won Antique Ultralight Champion and Best Ultralight Amphibian at AirVenture. The aircraft is an experimental project and no production is planned.
Electric Sikorsky S-300C
The electric Sikorsky S-300 of the Project Firely is one of the first electric rotorcraft.Others
Several other electric aircraft are now being created for the Green Flight Challenge. These include:- Fueling GFC Team Fueling GFC
- Windward Performance Goshawk
- Phoenix Air PhoEnix
Alisport Silent Club
The first commercially available production electric aircraft was the Alisport Silent ClubAlisport Silent Club
|-References:*Silent Club Flight Manual*http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/alianti.htm*http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aircraft/glider_handbook/media/faa-h-8083-13.pdf*Soaring March 2005...
self-launching sailplane. It was first tested in 1997. It is optionally driven by a 13 kW DC electric motor running on 40 kg (88 lb) of batteries that store 1.4 kWh of energy.
Electraflyer
In April 2007 the Electric Aircraft Corporation began offering complete electric ultralights and engine kits under the ElectraFlyerElectraFlyer
The ElectraFlyer trike is an ultralight aircraft that flies using an electric motor, instead of a traditional gasoline engine.The ElectraFlyer-C is a prototype aircraft that uses the same electric motor configuration as the ElectraFlyer Trike....
brand name, to convert existing ultralight aircraft to electric power, in what is the first commercial offering of an electric aircraft.
The 18 hp engine package weighs 26 lbs and an efficiency of 90% is claimed by the company. The battery consists of two lithium-polymer battery packs which provides 1.5 hours of flying in the trike
Trike
Trike can refer to:* Trichloroethylene* Tricycle* Three wheeled car* Three wheeled motorcycle* Ultralight trike, an ultralight aircraft with a hang glider style flexible wing* Trikke* Triceratops* Trike, an album of Bob Log III...
application.
In January 2008 the company introduced their new ElectraFlyer-C at the Sebring Light Sport Aircraft Show. This aircraft is a converted Monnett Moni motor glider
Motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,...
equipped with an 18-hp electric motor, regenerative-braking-capable controller package and two lithium polymer battery packs. The engine weighs 29 lbs and the battery packs weigh 78 lbs total. The aircraft has a climb rate of 500 ft/min, cruise of 70 mph and an endurance of 90 minutes. It is capable of being recharged from a 110-volt source in six hours or from a 220 volt source in two hours. The aircraft began flying in May 2008 and was demonstrated before the crowds on August 2 at AirVenture 2008.
In April 2009 the ElectraFlyer-C prototype was offered for sale on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. The designer intends to use the funds from the sale, plus a Lindbergh Foundation grant of $10,580 to complete two-place design that will eventually qualify for Light-sport aircraft
Light-sport Aircraft
A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance...
status. The new design will incorporate composite construction, detachable wingtips to aid storage and will be powered by a 50 hp electric motor. Its design goals include a 28:1 glide ratio and a cruise speed of 80 mph (129 km/h) for two hours.
Electraflyer president Randall Fishman announced in April 2010 that the company's latest model, the Electraflyer-X, would fly in May or June 2010. The aircraft will be a two-seater and will utilize a new 20 hp single rotor electric powerplant. Fishman is also developing 40 hp two-rotor and 60 hp three rotor engine designs.
Sonex Aircraft
During AirVenture 2007 Sonex AircraftSonex Aircraft
Sonex Aircraft, LLC is an American aircraft kit manufacturer located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, producing kits for four all-metal homebuilt monoplanes. The company is led by John Monnett who has designed the Monnett Sonerai sport aircraft series, Monnett Monerai sailplane, Monnett Moni motorglider, and...
announced that they are working on a series of alternate power initiatives, including an electric-powered aircraft. The electric powered Waiex motor glider
Motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,...
was first flown in December 2010 and is powered by a 54 kW brushless DC electric motor, managed by a newly designed controller. Power is from a collection of 14.5 kW-hour lithium polymer batteries, giving the aircraft an endurance of one hour at low-speed cruise or 15 minutes of aerobatics. This power system is being developed for the Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft
Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft
-External links:***...
, which will be available as a kit.
Yuneec International E430
A new ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
aircraft was announced in 2009. The Yuneec International E430 is a two seat, V tailed, composite aircraft with a high-aspect ratio wing. Take-off speed is 40 mph and top speed is 93 mph. The aircraft is being developed as a homebuilt aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
for the US market.
The prototype E430 was displayed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2009, by which time it had flown over 22 hours. The company claims that the battery packs have an expected lifespan of 1500 hours and cost US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
7000 each, with the aircraft carrying 3-5 battery packs, giving two to two and half hours' endurance. The batteries can be recharged in 3 hours. The company projects that by the time the first customers require replacement battery packs that improved and less expensive ones will be available. Projected price for a commercially available light sport aircraft production version of the E430 is US$89,000.
Flightstar e-Spyder
The e-Spyder is an electric-powered version of the Flightstar Spyder ultralight, developed by Flightstar SportplanesFlightstar Sportplanes
Flightstar Sportplanes is an American aircraft manufacturer based in South Woodstock, Connecticut. Its primary product is the Flightstar of ultralight and two-seat training and light-sport aircraft, which have been in continuous production since the mid-1980s...
president Tom Peghiny of South Woodstock, Connecticut
South Woodstock, Connecticut
South Woodstock is a census-designated place in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,211 at the 2000 census.It is notable as the former home of the now-defunct Annhurst College.-Geography:...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in cooperation with electric engine manufacturer Yuneec. The aircraft replaces the Spyder's two-stroke engine with a Yuneec 20 kW electric motor and two 28 lb (13 kg) lithium-polymer battery packs which provide a 40 minute endurance. The aircraft was exhibited at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2009 and is intended as a commercially available kit plane
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
, forecast to be available for under US$25,000.
Lange Antares 20E
Motor glider
A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,...
with a 42-kW electric motor and SAFT VL 41M lithium-ion batteries. The motor actuates 2-blade fixed pitch propeller. It can climb up to 3,000 meters with fully charged cells. After launch it can function as a conventional, though heavy, glider
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
. , over 50 had been built.
Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau Arcus-E
The Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau Arcus-E was built in 2010. It was inspired by the Lange Aviation Antares 20E.Cessna 172
In July 2010 CessnaCessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
announced it was developing an electrically powered Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
as a proof-of-concept in partnership with Bye Energy. Cessna CEO Jack Pelton stated that the project reflects "encouraging news for the future of mainstream general aviation." Pelton pointed out "the electric power plant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there."
PC-Aero Elektra One
The Elektra One is a development of a commercial electric aircraft design by PC-Aero of GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The single seat composite aircraft had its first flight in early 2011. The Elektra One is powered by a 21 hp electric motor and is expected to have an endurance of three hours, with a 100 mph (161 km/h) top speed.
The company is planning a whole line of aircraft including a version of the Elektra One with longer wings and built-in solar panels and an aerobatic
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
version with double Elektra One's power and airframe strength. The company is also planning two and four seat developments.
Pipistrel Taurus Electro G2
First made available commercially in February 2011, the Taurus Electro G2 is a two-seat self-launching sailplane. The 40 kW engine powers the aircraft from internally mounted lithiumLithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
batteries for a 17-minute climb, after which the engine is retracted and the aircraft then soars as a sailplane. In April 2011 the Taurus won the 2011 Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize for "best electric aircraft" at the Aero show held in Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen
This article is about a German town. For the Danish town, see Frederikshavn, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Friedrichshafen is a university city on the northern side of Lake Constance in Southern Germany, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.It is the district capital of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Regenerative flight
A design concept has been put forward for soaring-type aircraftGlider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
called regenerative soaring. In this approach, a propeller, using symmetrical blade sections, would be used as a turbine to recharge stored energy when the aircraft encounters an updraft. At high altitudes, the energy available from vertical atmospheric motion within a thermal can exceed available solar power by a factor of ten or more.
2030 - 2040
Recently proposed electric aircraft concepts for the future, feature unconventional and rather radical propulsion systems such as distributed propulsion technology. Turboelectric power transfer in these propulsion arrangements contribute to energy conversation and feasible electric aircraft systems. Despite the aforementioned benefits, future electric aircraft concepts are also faced with a number of notable challenges that are currently addressed by analysis tools such as ELECTERA. ELECTERA is a novel techno economic risk analysis scheme for future electric aircraft . This scheme is proposed for initial design assessments of novel electric aircraft concepts at preliminary design stages.Another proposed electric aircraft concept is the EADS VoltAir. It could be made within 25 years and features liquid nitrogen cooling for the engine.
See also
- Compressed air engine
- Electric vehicleElectric vehicleAn electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
- Electric vehicle conversionElectric vehicle conversionAn electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle to electric propulsion, creating an all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.-Elements of a conversion:...
- European Aviation Safety AgencyEuropean Aviation Safety AgencyThe European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
(EASA) - Green Flight Challenge
- High-temperature superconductivityHigh-temperature superconductivityHigh-temperature superconductors are materials that have a superconducting transition temperature above . From 1960 to 1980, 30 K was thought to be the highest theoretically possible Tc...
- Hybrid electric vehicleHybrid electric vehicleA hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
- Hydrogen powered aircraft
- Model aircraftModel aircraftModel aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass...
- NanotechnologyNanotechnologyNanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
- Plug-in hybrid
- Power beaming
- Radio-controlled aircraftRadio-controlled aircraftA radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...
- Solar energy
- TurbofanTurbofanThe turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
External links
- Solar Flyer
- Sky-high Hydrogen Flyer
- SoLong Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
- The Evolution of Electrically-Powered Flight
- World’s First Hybrid Airplane Engine
- PhD Thesis on the "Design of Solar Powered Airplanes for Continuous Flight" - 19.2 MB download
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