On Wed, 17 Jun 2015 04:28:34 +0000 (UTC), Skywise
wrote:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/06...e-fan-orig.cnn

Brian


Interesting.

The Airbus E-Fan is intended for flight instruction. Would that be multiengine
flight instruction?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_E-Fan
Airbus E-Fan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
E-Fan
Airbus E-Fan (14088845198).jpg
Airbus E-Fan in flight at 2014 Berlin Air Show
Role Electric aircraft
Manufacturer Airbus Group Innovations
Designer Didier Esteyne[1]
First flight 11 March 2014
Introduction 2017
Status Under development
Number built 1

The Airbus E-Fan is a prototype two-seater electric aircraft being developed by
Airbus Group. It was flight demonstrated to the world press at the Farnborough
International Airshow in the UK in July 2014. The target market is pilot
training.

Contents

1 Design and development
2 Variants
3 Specifications
4 References
5 External links

Design and development

Airbus Group is developing an electric aircraft with Aero Composite Saintonge.
The aircraft uses on-board lithium batteries to power the two electric motors
and can carry two passengers. A test flight was conducted in April 2014 at
Mérignac Airport, France, landing in front of a large audience, the French
Minister of Industry Arnaud Montebourg being one of them. At the 2014
Farnborough Airshow, Airbus announced that the E-Fan 2.0 will go into
production by 2017 with a side-by-side seating layout.[2] Airbus has stated
that there are plans for development of a commercial regional aircraft in the
near future.[3][4]

The E-Fan is an all-electric two-seat twin-motor low-wing monoplane of
composite structure. It has a T-tail and a retractable tandem landing gear with
outrigger wheels. The two motors are mounted on either side of the rear
fuselage.

Two production variants are planned, a two-seater E-Fan 2.0 for use as a
trainer, and the E-Fan 4.0 four-seater. The E-Fan 4.0 appears identical to the
E-Fan apart from a fuselage stretch. To increase flight duration the E-Fan 4.0
will have a hybrid-electric system that will have a small engine to charge the
battery, which will increase its duration from 2 hours to 3.5 hours. First
flight of the E-Fan 2.0 is planned for 2014 and the E-Fan 4.0 should follow in
2019.[1]
A ducted fan on the E-Fan

The E-fan is of all-composite construction and is propelled by two ducted,
variable-pitch fans spun by two electric motors totaling 60 kW of power.
Ducting increases thrust while reducing noise, and having the fans mounted
centrally provides better control. The motors moving the fans are powered by a
series of 250-volt lithium-ion polymer batteries made by South Korean company
Kokam. The batteries are mounted in the inboard section of the wings. They have
enough power for one hour and take one hour to recharge. An onboard backup
battery is available to make an emergency landing if power runs out while
airborne. The E-fan's undercarriage consists of two retractable fore and aft
wheels, with another two under the wings. Unusually for an aircraft, the wheels
are powered by a 6 kW electric motor, which allows the plane to be taxied
without the main motors, and are able to accelerate it to 60 km/h (37 mph; 32
kn) for takeoffs. Having the takeoff run performed by the undercarriage
relieves some of the burden on the flight motors.[5]

In December 2014 Airbus announced that DAHER-SOCATA will complete the design
work on the aircraft and certify it. VoltAir, an Airbus subsidiary, developed
the initial prototype and will work with Daher-Socata during the testing phase
as the project manager.[6] At this point the aircraft became the VoltAir
E-Fan.[1]

On 30 April 2015 the company announced that the aircraft will be produced at
Pau Pyrénées Airport, south-west France, at a new facility to be constructed in
2016, that will be near the DAHER-SOCATA plant at Tarbes. First deliveries are
expected at the end of 2017 or early 2018.[7][8]
Variants

E-Fan
Two-seat concept aircraft ad technology demonstrator, first flown March
2014.[1][9]
E-Fan 2.0
Proposed all-electric two-seat production variant, to fly 2017.[1]
E-Fan 4.0
Proposed hybrid-electric four-seat variant, to fly 2019; a kerosene fuelled
generator will extend endurance from 2 hr to 3 hr 30 min.[1]
E-Thrust
Proposed 90-seat regional jet based on the principles of the E-Fan.[9]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2014/15[10]

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 6.67 m (21 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Max takeoff weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Electric motor , 30 kW (40 hp) each via eight-blade ducted
fans,each producing thrust of 0.75 kN (266 lb st)

Performance

Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph; 119 kn) all performance figures estimated
Cruising speed: 160 km/h (99 mph; 86 kn)
Endurance: 60 min
Lift-to-drag: 16:1[1]

References

Gunston, Bill (2015). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development &
production : 2015-16. IHS Global. pp. 410–11. ISBN 978-0-7106-3135-0.
"Airbus commits to E-Fan Production". Retrieved 16 July 2014.
O'Callaghan, Jonathan (2013-09-17). "Airbus unveils plans for battery-powered
planes within the next 20 years". The daily Mail (online ed.). UK. Retrieved
2014-04-28.
Bertorelli, Paul (2014-04-24). "Airbus Announces Electric Aircraft". Av Web.
Retrieved 2014-04-28.
"E-Fan electric aircraft makes first public flight", Giz mag, 30 April 2014.
Kauh, Elaine (11 December 2014). "Daher-Socata To Develop Airbus E-Fan". AVweb.
Retrieved 14 December 2014.
"Airbus E-Fan To Be Built In Pau, France". AVweb. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
"L'E-fan décollera de Pau". La Tribune (in French). 30 April 2015. Retrieved 4
May 2015.
Reed Business Information Limited. "Airbus light aircraft initiative blazes
trail to electric future".

Jackson, Paul A. (2014). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development &
production : 2014-15. IHS Global. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-7106-3094-0.

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airbus E-Fan.

Airbus Group E-Aircraft Day
Airbus Group E-Fan Brochure