Tom Peghiny, president of Flight Design USA,
considers his e-Spyder a proof of concept for electric
ultralight flying. Built in three months, the e-Spyder
features Yuneec International’s 20 kW/27 hp electric
motor system. Yuneec’s system includes a brushless
motor, a power controller, two lithium-polymer
batteries, a throttle panel, and a charger. All of the
components are “plug and fly,” eliminating concerns
about motor/controller compatibility and battery
damage from the charger.
The e-Spyder flew almost silently at Air Venture 2009.
To meet the weight limitations of FAR 103 regulations,
the design was modified slightly to include carbon fiber
spars, special mounts for the motor and batteries, and a
new propeller. The plane has a 30-foot wingspan and flies
at 50 mph. The production model e-Spyder would feature
streamlined battery and controller housings, a 3-foot
longer wingspan, a covered aft fuselage, and an airfoil
designed for the Yuneec motor.
Pipistrel Taurus
The Slovenian firm Pipistrel manufactures a range of
composite aircraft including gas-powered Sinus and Virus
touring motorgliders as well as the Taurus self-launching
sailplane. Only the Sinus and Virus were displayed at
AirVenture this year, but Pipistrel is in full production
of the Taurus, which features a claimed 41-to- 1 glide
ratio and a roomy two-place cockpit and is available
with either a Rotax 503 engine or an electric motor
(both in the 50-hp class); both versions cost the same
(about $130,000 base price at current exchange rates).
Performance is essentially identical for both versions,
with a climb rate of about 650 fpm; the difference is
that the electric version has enough battery capacity for
about 6,500 feet of climb and would thus fall into the
self-launching sailplane class, while the gas version is
capable of about two hours’ cruise at 90 knots. The Taurus
is shipping now; the earliest available delivery position at
the time of AirVenture was May of 2010.
What’s Coming?
Various other firms are manufacturing electrically
powered aircraft. Most are in the motorglider or self-launching sailplane category. However, SkySpark in
Italy recently set a 155-mph speed record with its
Pioneer 103, a low-wing two-place reminiscent of
Dr. Stelio Frati’s immortal Falco and SF.260 designs. A
joint German/Slovenian project called Hydrogenius is
developing another fuel-cell airplane based on a highly
modified Pipistrel Taurus airframe. Sonex Aircraft LLC
continues development of its e-Flight Waiex and ran
the engine for AirVenture attendees daily in the EAA
Aviation Learning Center. And Mark Beierle reports he’s
logged six hours of flight on Earthstar Aircraft’s e-Gull,
displayed near the Waiex.
It’ll probably be a while before we can pull our
fuel-cell ships up to the airport hydrogen pump, but in
the meantime, pure electric airplanes are here, now,
with entirely useful performance, and they’ll continue to
become ever more useful, ever more affordable, and—
dare we use the word?—ever more practical.
Administrator Babbitt Meets EAAers
Newly appointed FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt
projected the calm assurance of a seasoned agency
veteran during AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. A previous
visitor to Oshkosh many times, Babbitt is an aviation
enthusiast, a private pilot, a former flight instructor, and
an EAA member.
Courtesy Randall Fishman
ElectraFlyer LSA
Hilary Lawrence
FAA Administrator Babbitt presented the FAA Master Pilot
Award to EAA Founder Paul Poberezny during his Meet the
Administrator forum. He recognized Paul and Audrey for their
dedication to aviation, saying, “Your names are on the short
list of people who changed the way we think about airplanes.”
