First electric powered UK light plane

[red750]

https://youtu.be/v-cWOKnRmjI

[Marty_d]

I was wondering why he kept the prop spinning at the pre takeoff checks.  It's not like he has to wait for the oil temp to rise or check the magneto drop.

[facthunter]

Does a short flight like that prove anything much?  Electric power would suit a very efficient airframe better.  Nev

[FlyBoy1960]

The electric Pipistrel aircraft have been there for 3 to 5 years from memory. 

 

There was also an electric trike with lead acid batteries about 25 years ago so it's hardly the first electric plane in the UK ?

 

Also an electric Cri-Cri from memory about 10 years ago.

[kasper]

Ummm ...

 

The claims of first would be from a manufacturer ... and I know some of the people involved and salesmen is a fair description of them.  First electric SSDR maybe but first in UK it certainly is not... and this will not be for sale anyway as it was a tech demonstrator done with UK grant money.

 

Plus, has anyone heard of the all-electric aircraft built by Rolls-Royce that flew last year and has broken two world speed records?

In November 2021, The Spirit of Innovation hit an average of 555.9 km/h (345.4 mph) over 3 km, and 532.1km/h (330 mph) over 15 km.  Both flown out of Boscombe Downs which is in the UK.

 

 

[onetrack]

The specs for the RR Spirit of Innovation are hard to come by - but the specs bandied around are totally wrong. Articles that are wrong that are obviously copied off other wrong articles, state that the 3 RRSoI batteries weigh 450kg each - yet the articles also state the MTOW is 1200kg? 

Regardless, despite the RRSoI having the initial claim to fame in the electric air power stakes, nothing in any of the above shows adequate battery density, payload capacity, or range that even reaches a commercial level.

 

It will take many more years, or a major battery innovation breakthrough, before the electric-powered aircraft reaches commercial viability with a satisfactory range and payload. All of the above are merely test beds and prototypes.

The RRSoI is reported as having a 320km range - but says nothing about payload at that range. It appears pretty obvious the payload is practically zero, apart from the pilot.

 

Pipistrel are really the only manufacturer with a (short range, minimal payload) electric aircraft, but even their product has major limitations, and short-distance training use is about its only real application.

 

https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-battery-innovations-behind-rolls-royces-ultrafast-electric-airplane

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_ACCEL#cite_note-8

 

https://www.rolls-royce.com/~/media/Files/R/Rolls-Royce/documents/innovation/spirit-of-innovation-factsheet.pdf

 

A Perth-based engineer promised to provide a Perth-to-Rottnest Island Air Taxi service, utilising an electric aircraft in 2019. We're still waiting - and waiting - for that electric air taxi service from him.

 

https://particle.scitech.org.au/tech/aussie-first-electric-plane-takes-to-wa-skies/

 

Another local "start-up", is "hoping" to bring us air taxis in 2026. I won't be holding my breath on this one, either.

Aviation is littered with unfulfilled promises and dreams that never materialise, but which are usually good at soaking up investors money. I note that even the RRSoI was funded with a large grant from the British Govt.

 

https://australianaviation.com.au/2022/01/perth-based-start-up-to-bring-electric-air-taxis-to-wa-in-2026/

 

Edited May 9, 2022 by onetrack

[FlyBoy1960]

I have close-up photos of this engine, i will see if i can find them.  Taken about 4 years ago before the record flights.

[pmccarthy]

RSol is an unfortunate name.

[onetrack]

Peter, it's actually an "I" in the abbreviation, not a small "L". I guess that's why RR were careful to avoid utilising a name such as Spirit of Lektrickery. 

[Marty_d]

6 hours ago, pmccarthy said:

RSol is an unfortunate name.

Hale & Pace did a good song about a Real Estate company - R. Sole & Sons.

[FlyBoy1960]

now I get it.   I was trying to work out what it stood for I have only just worked out what LMFAO meant

[red750]

Maybe I should have titled the thread "First electric powered UK recreational aircraft prototype".

[Marty_d]

This seems like a viable product - given they have $9b in pre orders for 2000 aircraft, the market thinks so anyway.

Not a true electric as it uses a small turbine to recharge the battery.

Home | Electra.aero

WWW.ELECTRA.AERO

 

[Marty_d]

Getting there ..

https://www.techinasia.com/news/catl-unveils-battery-breakthrough-electric-aircraft

 

[Thruster88]

25 minutes ago, Marty_d said:

Getting there ..

https://www.techinasia.com/news/catl-unveils-battery-breakthrough-electric-aircraft

 

Using the calculator. If we run our Rotax 912 powered LSA @ 50% power(low power), ie  37kw to the propeller for 1 hour we will need an 80kg battery to do this in the electric version. 80kg is more than the max fuel wieght of most LSA aircraft. Only 1 hour no reserve. LSA aircraft typically only carry 10% of their MTOW in fuel, for jets this is much much higher.

 

500wh per kg battery will not make commercial aircraft burning jet A viable.

[facthunter]

I don't think we  are talking about long range jet aircraft, but an electric motor for a U/L can be quite light. The power drop off at altitude doesn't happen so flying higher  would save  energy.  Nev

[kasper]

The real issue is that the battery system installed weight is really much worse than people think. The motor and controllers are much lighter than petrol but the batteries really start to kill.  
Current lithium packs in certified enclosures and the required BMS and safety cutouts are heavy at around 4.1-4.8kg per kWh of battery.

I’m  looking at 2.4kwh units that are “affordable” at 10kg and cost under $500. That works out at a 26hp motor installed with folding prop and cockpit instruments and two batteries giving 30min of flight for the same weight as the current kfm107 set up for 30 min of flight. 
 

Where it dies is to add another half hour of batteries is 20kg but half an hour of petrol is only 3kg

 

Making the energy density 4 times better in the cells will help as would custom build battery packs rather than multiple smaller units but that is very expensive to do.

[turboplanner]

Anyone know how the South Australian EA is going for training?

This was the one that broke some distance records but with two ground crews each with trailer mounted generators.

[Thruster88]

46 minutes ago, turboplanner said:

Anyone know how the South Australian EA is going for training?

This was the one that broke some distance records but with two ground crews each with trailer mounted generators.

Alpha Electro

FLYONE.COM.AU

---

The Pipistrel Alpha Electro is the best money saving and emissions saving trainer and recreational aircraft in Australia, flying all electric.

 

Three very low hour machines available for you turbo to start your electric flying training school. Some "interesting " numbers in the link.

[turboplanner]

.

Edited July 4 by turboplanner

[turboplanner]

The one I was thinking about was Barrie's in SA.

This link shows the realistic 1 hour charge, 35 - 45 minute flight, difficulty finding places to land, airports too far apart (he was probably thinking about cross country hire at the time).

 

 

[facthunter]

Never having to warm the engine up would save time. Engine reliability should be better.   How about for Powered Gliders?  Nev

[kgwilson]

CATL announced the 500Wh/kg a year ago and have been testing the technology since. With the market announcement in April I'd think that those who already have electric aircraft operating or in the pipeline will gain significant performance and range. What it can do straight away is improve the range of the existing Pipistrel quite dramatically as its existing batteries provide about 150kWh/kg. Charging time is falling massively too. Both BYD & CATL have developed Megawatt chargers that can provide 1000km of range in 5 minutes for an EV with a 100kWh battery. These are of course not main stream yet but the technology is here so it will not be far away. There is a lot of investment going in to battery powered short haul and vtol aircraft & autonomous operation. There was a demo one at last years Oshkosh.