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https://newatlas.com/electric-aircra...stralia/52846/
Battery-powered electric plane quietly takes to Australian skies for the first time AIRCRAFT Rich Haridy January 7th, 2018 14 PICTURES Electro.Aero plans to use the battery electric plane for new pilot training(Credit: Electro.Aero) VIEW GALLERY - 14 IMAGES Pipistrel's Alpha Electro took to the skies in Australia recently, marking the first time an electric light sport aircraft was certified and flown in the country. The plane has been expressly designed to be an efficient and cheap pilot training craft and this successful first test flight marks a new frontier for electric aircraft in Australia. Pipistrel is an aircraft manufacturer based in Slovenia The company is currently mass-producing the Alpha Electro for sale around the world The plane can fly for up to one hour on a single battery charge The plane is powered by two lithium ion batteries The test flight was spear-headed by Australian sustainable aviation company Electro.Aero. The company is at the forefront of electric aviation technology in the country after obtaining certification for the Alpha Electro by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority in late 2017. The plane, developed by Slovenia-based manufacturer Pipistrel, is a two-seater, single-propeller light aircraft, powered by two llithium-ion batteries. A single charge can reportedly keep the plane in the air for up to one hour, with 30 minutes of extra power in reserve. The plane can fly for up to one hour on a single battery charge Perhaps the most common comment reported by onlookers witnessing the test flight was how quiet the plane was, and it is this very feature that both Pipistrel and Electro.Aero are suggesting will make the aircraft highly sought after. "This is the start of the next revolution in general aviation," says Richard Charlton, finance director of Electro.Aero. "We are already fielding enquiries from airports located in major cities where noise complaints have become their number one concern." The simple electric motor is significantly quieter than fossil fuel-powered engines, meaning the plane can fly... The plane's batteries are easily replaceable for quick flight turnovers or can be fully charged in just under one hour. Charlton also points out that the simplicity of an electric engine means significantly cheaper running and maintenance costs when compared to a traditional fossil fuel-powered engine. "The electric engine is really simple," says Charlton. "It has one moving part, it's a very small piece of equipment and it is a solid-state motor." Sources: Pipistrel, Electro.Aero http://electro.aero/index.php/en/new...sport-aircraft Pipistrel has developed a fast-charging station for its planes allowing the batteries to be charged in... The simple electric motor is significantly quieter than fossil fuel-powered engines, meaning the plane can fly... The test flight launched out of an airport in Perth, Australia The plane has an extra 30-minute reserve of power on top of the 60-minute flight time... VIEW GALLERY - 14 IMAGES COMMENTS POST A COMMENT VincentWolfJanuary 7th, 2018 The future of all transportation is electric. Eventually batteries with 10 times the energy density and weighing even less will power planes like this for 12+ hours or 1500 miles. That spells the end of small jet planes since electrics can go over 350 mph if designed right and that's plenty fast. CAVUMarkJanuary 7th, 2018 Bravo. Australia needs general aviation. Such a large country with no GA is ironic. The government charges for landing and movement fees which stifles aviation and the passion which many Australians have. Making training less expensive is the start. michael_dowlingJanuary 8th, 2018 These aircraft are good for short hops,but long haul flights will still depend on liquid fuels,ideally carbon neutral biofuels. notarichmanJanuary 8th, 2018 there is solar panels produced by Nanosolar that are very thin, light that could be applied to the wings, etc. to charge the batteries. i suggest pipistrel contact them to try out the idea. could possibly get one airplane covered for free as an experiment and then make a deal for the future. christopherJanuary 8th, 2018 It's actually the prop which makes almost all the noise, so 90%+ of the praise for the "quietness" is actually nothing to do with the electric motor, and all to do with their selection of the prop blades. Martin HoneJanuary 8th, 2018 Chris is right. The prop is usually the source of most noise, especially the old Harvard T-6 trainer. In this case, the prop is probably pitched up ( coarse) to slow it down and suit the torque of the electric motor. Tom Lee MullinsJanuary 8th, 2018 I think that is both cool and green. I doubt neighbors would hear that plane and won't have a reason to complain about the 'noise' it makes. I think a fuel cell would extend the range of the airplane and give extra power when needed. I have some really small fuel cells that could provide power; ones that are already powering cars and motorcycles. F. TuijnJanuary 9th, 2018 Build the batteries into the wings which enables you to select a high aspect ratio. Electro motors are reliable so use multiple motors to have good airflow over extended flaps for take off and landing. Use direct drive from motor to propeller. Use coaxial propellers. These give some 10% more thrust at low and high speed for the same power. Use a larger front propeller than rear propeller so the tips of the rear propeller do not cut the tip vortices from the front propeller ( see An-70 transport aircraft ). JonStronJanuary 10th, 2018 @Chrisrtopher, i can hear a piston banger from miles away, the prop noise is distinctly different from the loud piston noise and ICE engine produces. Nothing compares to the quietness of an electric motor, nothing ! |
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