On Aug 7, 3:04 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
Larry Dighera wrote:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 14:51:55 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in
:

all this talk of electric airplanes while a nice thought is
something that at best is way in the future.

That's only true if you overlook Randall Fishman's electrically
powered ultralight (http://www.electraflyer.com) and Mr. Monnett's
Sonex proof-of-concept Waiex aircraft
(http://www.sonexaircraft.com/press/r...r_072407.html).

But, I know, you were referring to electrically powered aircraft with
the same utility as today's GA aircraft, right?

Right. When the electric Sonex can do the same thing the VW powered Sonex
can do then it will become something more than an interesting idea.


I have not seen any significant flight duration claim on the Sonex,
which speaks well for the design team. The 2 hours flight duration on
the trike is IMO a gross exaggeration extrapolated from a much shorter
actual time in thermal conditions. If the ability to get off the
ground were the sole criteria we are there already but practical
flight characteristics for mass consumption are way down the road. To
be safe an aircraft needs a lot more power than the amount required to
rise from the ground. My first home built ultralite was a 32 ft rigid
wing using an IC engine of about 18hp and while it would fly the lack
of climb ability was a big disadvantage. In marginal conditions it
wouldn't lift beyond ground effect which resulted in interesting
obstacle flights around trees and under power lines. It didn't take
long for me to decide that my life was worth more than the 18hp engine
and a new 30hp engine ultimately made for a much safer aircraft.