Electric Sonex

"cavelamb himself" wrote in message
link.net...
wrote:
On Jul 24, 8:35 pm, Dan Nafe wrote:


I love it. We need to stop using ferin' oil, this is the first of many
steps in the right direction.


Except that way too much electricity is being generated
using oil or natural gas, and the losses of efficiency in first
burning the stuff, then generating electricity, transmitting it long
distances and losing more, then the heat losses in running chargers
and more heat off the batteries, I think we'd end up burning nearly
twice as much as if we just stuck a VW on it.
Coal is more available but is so dirty. Nuclear is really
avaiable but isn't cheap and scares too many folks.

Dan


I can almost envision a coal fired Sonex.

Fill the baggage compartment with coal and the "passenger" gets a
shovel...

I have a somewhat visual sense of humor, and that's FUNNY!

Peter

wrote:

Coal is more available but is so dirty.

The imagination tries to picture a coal-fired plane. One pilot, one
shoveler.
No more worries about Blue Ice falling from the sky, but those clinkers
from the steam boiler keep 'em stepping to get out of the way!

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions.

(a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless
(considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly
to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed--
(1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or
(2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.


When I was instructing in gliders, it was routine to join the pattern with
(the energy equivalent) of perhaps three minutes of fuel! It always worked.

The difference is knowing precisely how much energy you have available.
The FARs say 30 minutes for airplanes partially because of the inaccuracy of the
average light plane fuel gauge and also because folks actually use their
airplanes to travel from one airport to another. Neither of those factors need
apply to an electric training airplane. First, it would operate from one field.
Second, technology exists to fairly precisely inform the pilot how much energy
remains in the batteries. (add a GPS-informed computer to the mix and you could
always be sure that you had enough energy to return to the field)

Vaughn

In article ,
"Vaughn Simon" wrote:

Second, technology exists to fairly precisely inform the pilot how much
energy
remains in the batteries. (add a GPS-informed computer to the mix and you
could
always be sure that you had enough energy to return to the field)

[smacks myself on the forehead]

What a great idea!

"Dan Nafe" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Vaughn Simon" wrote:

... (add a GPS-informed computer to the mix and you
could
always be sure that you had enough energy to return to the field)

[smacks myself on the forehead]

What a great idea!

Yes it is a great idea, but not mine. Such computers have been used on
gliders for years.

Vaughn

In article
,
"Vaughn Simon" wrote:

"Dan Nafe" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Vaughn Simon" wrote:

... (add a GPS-informed computer to the mix and you
could
always be sure that you had enough energy to return to the field)

[smacks myself on the forehead]

What a great idea!

Yes it is a great idea, but not mine. Such computers have been used on
gliders for years.

Vaughn



I'll bet the sailplane systems use the GPS as a pseudo-Air Data
Computer, too. (To account for winds aloft and help avoid landing out)