Electric aeroplanes ?

[First time Juke]

Hello everyone !



So much is happening in the small scale that I have to ask.

Are there any that would fly with electricity alone ? I don't mean the solar powered things !

I mean with a man onboard ( or a chick ! ).



rgds,

Juke

[Stevo]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

I remember reading an article in... I think it was Popular science, were there was a company working on electrifying a full scale aircraft. I'll search around on the net and see if I can find anything.

[taichi]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

There is the one called Oxyflyer powered by dry cell batteries! It is said that 160 LR-6 batteries are used for the flight. The aircraft sponsored by Panasonic flew 1284 ft in 59 seconds on 16 Jul. 2006. It was designed by Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan.
I am sorry that the homepage is written in Japanese.

http://oxyride.jp

http://www.aero.or.jp/record/rec-DryBattery.htm

Taichi

[Flyguy161]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

There was a program sponcered by NASA and FASTec - Foundation for Advanced Science and Technology Education Curriculum. A company called Advanced Technology Products planned to fly a two seater all-carbon build airplane kit plane called the DynAero Lafayette III. I have not heard anything new on this project in several years but here are some links...

http://www.h2cars.de/7_aircraftdata/a025.htm

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/EducationCentre/EducationCentreExternal/EduCentreImageDisplay/0,1756,112,00.html

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/specialty_vehicles.pdf

[gorace71]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Check out this. A self launching electric glider, Antares.

This is a competitive, though not proven in competition yet, 18 (or 20) meter self launch single place. It uses Li-Ion cells mounted in the wing for power and has better powered performance gas powered self launchers. They claim a glide ratio of 56/1, which is most likely close. The large gliders, i.e., 25 meter (about 86 foot span) get around 60/1.

I would be glad to replace my current 15 meter glider with one, but they have one slight problem. If you have to ask the price you can't afford one. The web sites do not talk cost, but these would be somewhere above $150,000, bare without trailer or instruments, in Germany.

http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm/english/products/antares_20e/antares_20E.html

Bruce Patton

[Skyracer]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Here are a few more links. MacCready's Solar Challenger made a successful 163 mile flight across the English Channel in 1981 on solar power. With today's more efficient motors and PV cells, along with lighter stronger materials, there is a lot of activity. Plug some suitable words into any search engine and read the night away.

http://www.solar-flight.com/index.htm

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/maccread.htm

http://www.casde.iitb.ac.in/Publications/pdfdoc/solar-AeSI-AGM.pdf

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Radio control electric aircraft can be very fast, probably due to high power and sleeker designs, than their engine powered competitors. Most people who see one for the first time are left in awe.

I expect the future of Reno will include classes for some kind of electric aircraft possibly with a fuel cell and super capacitor linked for long and short term power availability.

Costs currently are very high (due to battery or fuel cell costs) but will definately come down with time. Maybe we should start discussing the possible rules for an electric pylon racer trying to keep costs as low as possible whilst still maintaining safety and performance.

[Peashooter]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Radio control electric aircraft can be very fast, probably due to high power and sleeker designs, than their engine powered competitors. Most people who see one for the first time are left in awe.

I expect the future of Reno will include classes for some kind of electric aircraft possibly with a fuel cell and super capacitor linked for long and short term power availability.

Costs currently are very high (due to battery or fuel cell costs) but will definately come down with time. Maybe we should start discussing the possible rules for an electric pylon racer trying to keep costs as low as possible whilst still maintaining safety and performance.

F1-E!

As many R/C guys know, electrons are much easier to clean up than glow fuel!

[First time Juke]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

F1-E!

I figure possibly a class between an ultralite and a F1.

How about GE-1 ?

I think going around the pylons and turning left would do..possibly penalties for cutting a pylon ?

Definitely a twin...since electros go opposite direction with ease.


as allways,

Juke

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Is there anything currently in the rules that would disqualify an electric aircraft from the unlimited race ?

How about power beaming to the aircraft ? Laser or microwave (probably not a good idea)

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

By my calculations which are very approximate

A 10g Li-Poly phone battery provides 3.2V at 1 amp for one hour.
Available in my local phone shop for US$4

This equates to 3840 Watts for a 5 minute race per Kg

For an aircraft weighting the same as Rare Bear (I dont know the real weight so will say 2000Kg) of which most of which will be batteries we can probalbly get an power of about 6000hp.
Cost approx. US$800,000 for the batteries.

If you have more accurate figures please substitute into the formula.

[Skyracer]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Is there anything currently in the rules that would disqualify an electric aircraft from the unlimited race ?

Maybe the lack of pistons!

[AirDOGGe]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Yep. Unlimiteds have to use reciprocating (piston & crank) internal combustion engines. That's why you never see any turbines or Wankels competing.


I guess an electric plane would suffer from the same problems as electric cars.... cost, weight and relatively poor range (the latter being something RC flyers and closed-course racers don't have to worry much about).

Hmmm...A steam-powered racing class could prove interesting. Would that mean every plane would have to have a pilot and a fireman? ("MORE STEAM! WE'RE CATCHING UP TO STREGA!")

.

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Maybe install a small motorcycle engine to obey the rules and call the electric motor the starter.
I am sure there is a loop hole somewhere in the rules, or maybe a new class will need to be started.

[Reno_Steve]

Re: Electric aeroplanes ?

Would the Reno rules allow a hybrid aircraft ? IC engine +electric

I could see an application for this with motor gliders. Especially if they had solar power as well to charge the batteries whilst gliding or stationary on the ground.

At Oshkosh a few years ago I saw an electric aircraft. I will have to look to see what progress has been made since.

As a spectator , nothing beats the sound of the current unlimmiteds but looking to the future racing is always used to develop new technologies. I think we should have a class for innotative designs and alternative power. Maybe when the lightweight sports class appears we can open the rules to allow electric power , fuel cells as well as traditional engines.