{"id":10178,"date":"2015-07-22T21:46:32","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T04:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=10178"},"modified":"2015-07-22T21:46:32","modified_gmt":"2015-07-23T04:46:32","slug":"eas-ix-chip-erwin-gets-personal-electric-flying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/eas-ix-chip-erwin-gets-personal-electric-flying\/","title":{"rendered":"EAS IX: Chip Erwin Gets Personal with Electric Flying"},"content":{"rendered":"

Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), alas, haven\u2019t lived up to their early hype, 100 manufacturers selling only 235 units in the United States last year.\u00a0 That bothers Chip Erwin, who would like a Personal Sport Aircraft (PSA) option.\u00a0 He\u2019s working through his company, Aeromarine LSA<\/a>, to do something about that.<\/p>\n

Chip explains that high prices for LSAs, brought on by doubling Rotax prices over the last decade and quadrupling of once cheap European labor rates, has put what were to be $50,000 airplanes into the $150,000 price range, barely able to compete with used Cessnas and Pipers.<\/p>\n

\"Chip<\/a>

Chip Erwin (left) shows Calin Gologan his new motor. Hollow area in middle allows inclusion of shaft to control propeller pitch<\/p><\/div>\n

Having demonstrated two-stroke engines and an Electravia motor on his imported Zigolo ultralight glider, he has displayed an alternative motor designed by Don Lineback, first at last year\u2019s AirVenture as a mockup, then as an operating prototype at the ninth Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium in May.<\/p>\n

Now he\u2019s displaying it at AirVenture 2015, complete with an e-Prop four-blade, asymmetric propeller<\/a> reputed to cut noise.\u00a0 His video of a back-yard run-up shows that the 25-pound motor can double as a leaf blower.\u00a0 Chip told attendees at his presentation in May that the motor could theoretically put out up to 75 horsepower, sufficient to make this motor useful not only in Chip\u2019s PSAs but also in Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs).<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3WZWYsl-4fs&feature=youtu.be<\/p>\n

Along with the motor, a buyer will get a controller, battery management system (BMS) and battery pack, all for around $11,000.\u00a0 The batteries themselves are unique, with carbon fiber outer tubes protecting the active ingredients.\u00a0 Individual tubes can be connected in different arrays using special end connectors, allowing them to be configured to fit neatly into spaces available in an airframe.<\/p>\n

\"Cells<\/a>

Cells in Chip Erwin’s battery packs also have unique look. Tubes can be connected in series and parallel with end connectors, configured into any end-wise shapes<\/p><\/div>\n

Don Lineback designed the motor for high torque and low speed, so propeller speed reduction drives are not necessary.\u00a0 Chip reports,\u201dI will say that our goals of very high torque at very low RPMs look to have been met. Max RPM of 1,700 with an optimized RPM of 1,200 means the prop noise at cruise will be similar to the motor noise, which is almost nothing at 150 feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explains the high torque will allow \u201ca whisper-quiet cruise of 900 RPM on the Zigolo.\u201d \u00a0Not only will that keep the neighbors happy, but allow the Zigolo to cut back on the number of battery tubes it carries and stay within ultralight Part 103 weight limits.<\/p>\n

The Zigolo makes a good test bed for the motor, with its landing speed of around 26 mph and an ability to \u201cloiter\u201d at 46, a nice speed for quiet, breeze-in-your-face cruising.<\/p>\n

\"E\/G<\/a>

E\/G with two-cylinder, four-stroke engine. A more powerful unit is on its way, rumored to be from famed Weslake firm<\/p><\/div>\n

While Part 103 puts weight and performance limits on American flyers, Europe has adopted broader rules. The United Kingdom developed an SSDR (Single-Seater De-Regulated) class,\u00a0 which allows airplanes up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms) and higher speeds than allowed under U. S. ultralight rules.\u00a0 SSDR allows pilots to avoid medicals, an added benefit.\u00a0 Europe in general has fewer restrictions on single-seat recreational craft.<\/p>\n

\"Electric<\/a>

Electric motor on E\/G requires longer motor mount, but leaves plenty of room for battery pack, controller<\/p><\/div>\n

Chip sees his new range of aircraft, from the Part 103-compliant Zigolo, an Italian rendering of Mike Sandlin\u2019s Goat ultralight glider, to a high-wing E\/G Plane and a low-wing Stinger.\u00a0 With a gasoline two-stroke engine, the Zigolo comes in at under $12,000 in kit form, $16,000 in almost-ready-to-fly form and with electric power, around $20,000.<\/p>\n

The E\/G Merlin will cost around $35,000 ready to go, and the Stinger will not be over $42,000 if Chip\u2019s estimates he shared during his dinner presentation at EAS IX are still viable.\u00a0 From his web site, it looks like the range he\u2019s trying to achieve, somewhere in loaded Goldwing motorcycle territory.<\/p>\n

\"Stinger<\/a>

Stinger has miniature RV look, potential for fun sport flying<\/p><\/div>\n

He has nice plans for the near future, including amphibious floats that allow the E\/G to remain under 800 pounds even with a ballistic parachute.\u00a0 He wowed dinner guests with the idea that he would be able to produce a single-seat, electric amphibious craft that would open up the Personal Sport Aircraft market in new and exciting ways.<\/p>\n

See his web site for the logic behind PSAs.\u00a0 Chip makes a compelling argument for this new direction in aviation.<\/p>\n