Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft

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.

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.

wrote:
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.


I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is
expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power
usage on each individual flight."

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:

I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is
expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power
usage on each individual flight."

Be sure to let us kneaux when it flies...

As of OshGosh, it hadn't...

Darrel Toepfer wrote:
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:

I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance
is expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon
power usage on each individual flight."

Be sure to let us kneaux when it flies...

As of OshGosh, it hadn't...


Why should I. I'm not the one making the claim.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:

Why should I. I'm not the one making the claim.

But your the "bubble burst"r... ;-)

Darrel Toepfer wrote:
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:

Why should I. I'm not the one making the claim.

But your the "bubble burst"r... ;-)

Exactly! To have the guys bubble fixed he needs to be the one that keeps an
eye out for the flight.

On Aug 7, 3:49 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote:
wrote:
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.

I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is
expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power
usage on each individual flight."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I also read that but "Expected to be" isn't a claim and 45 minutes is
not what I would call significant duration.

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:20:22 -0700, wrote in
.com:


I have not seen any significant flight duration claim on the Sonex,
which speaks well for the design team.

I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is
expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power
usage on each individual flight."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I also read that but "Expected to be" isn't a claim and 45 minutes is
not what I would call significant duration.

Would you characterize 12 seconds ad significant?

http://www.thewrightbrothers.org/fivefirstflights.html
The First Flight, spanning some 120 feet in 12 seconds. The next
flight, Wilbur’s first flight on the 17th, extended to some 175
feet in 13 seconds and a landing was accomplished with no damage
to The Flyer. Orville’s second attempt that day, and his last one
in The Flyer, carried him just over 200 feet in 15 seconds and
ended with a safe landing. At noon, Wilbur took-off on the last
and the longest flight which The Flyer would ever make, and flew
for 852 feet, staying aloft for 59 seconds.

On Aug 8, 8:35 am, Larry Dighera wrote:
On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:20:22 -0700, wrote in
.com:



I have not seen any significant flight duration claim on the Sonex,
which speaks well for the design team.

I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above.

"Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is
expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power
usage on each individual flight."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I also read that but "Expected to be" isn't a claim and 45 minutes is
not what I would call significant duration.

Would you characterize 12 seconds ad significant?

http://www.thewrightbrothers.org/fivefirstflights.html
The First Flight, spanning some 120 feet in 12 seconds. The next
flight, Wilbur's first flight on the 17th, extended to some 175
feet in 13 seconds and a landing was accomplished with no damage
to The Flyer. Orville's second attempt that day, and his last one
in The Flyer, carried him just over 200 feet in 15 seconds and
ended with a safe landing. At noon, Wilbur took-off on the last
and the longest flight which The Flyer would ever make, and flew
for 852 feet, staying aloft for 59 seconds.

I guess I should have clarified that my comments refer to the here and
now where 12 seconds and\or 45 minutes are both insignificant in terms
of useful flight duration. While any duration is important the first
time achieved it will only become marketable when it has reached a
practical use point. Hopefully today's developments will lead to
something in the future that is but for now they are interesting
engineering experiments. Most people should and do applaud the efforts
while some think the future is already here. For those adventurers we
have $100,000 cars and underpowered trikes available right now.
I'm going to hold off for a little while longer.