On Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 10:38:42 AM UTC-7, DaleKramer wrote:
Is that Flywheel Energy Storage or Flat Earth Society?

I haven't found the gas motor I want yet for the 15kw output but I have lots of choices in the 8-10kw. Since this is needed much farther down the road, I have not put much detail design into it. I think I can build this for 25-30lbs. The JM1 only weighs 6 lbs. 10kw may be fine for me since who cares much if it takes 22 minutes to charge up during cruise versus 15 minutes.

Dale, that would be the electric glider that goes into regeneration mode when you're in thermals. Take that booming 10 knotter and dial in the regen until you can't climb. Hang in there until you've extracted the energy you want so you can skip all those wimpy thermals in between the good ones. We used to call that L/D ;-) Somewhere i came across a very technical paper on this, but haven't checked the numbers. The catch is always in underestimating the losses and overestimating the efficiency.

Hybrid glider might end up working, but what a bummer to have a gasoline motor running constantly at low output to charge batteries.