{"id":10275,"date":"2015-08-11T12:18:48","date_gmt":"2015-08-11T19:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=10275"},"modified":"2015-08-11T12:18:48","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T19:18:48","slug":"eas-ix-chip-erwin-follows-follows-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/eas-ix-chip-erwin-follows-follows-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"EAS IX: Chip Erwin Follows Up and Follows the Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chip Erwin is one of many who are trying to find less expensive ways for people to experience personal aviation.\u00a0 His company, Aeromarine LSA, fields a range of small aircraft, but he has taken a turn toward the lighter end of the market with his latest offerings.<\/p>\n

We wrote last month about his dinner presentation <\/a>at the ninth annual Electric Aircraft Symposium and this month he\u2019s followed up on several of the craft he discussed that night.<\/p>\n

\"CAD<\/a>

CAD rendition of motor mount for Chip’s motor on E-Plane. Don Lineback designed interesting powerplant<\/p><\/div>\n

His web site explains the different rules and regulations that govern small aircraft.\u00a0 Many rules are not yet established (electric motors in U. S. light sport aircraft, for instance).\u00a0 The second segment of the \u201cAbout Us\u201d section of Aeromarine\u2019s web site <\/a>describes each of four different sets of regulations \u2013 a collection that must stress aircraft designers working on small, light aircraft.<\/p>\n

\"Visualization<\/a>

Visualization realized on real airplane. Chip says E-Plane is ready to paint<\/p><\/div>\n

Four major rules guide how ultralight aircraft may be flown.\u00a0 FAR Part 103, the guiding light for ultralight designers and pilots in America for the last 30 years, limits weight and performance.\u00a0 Brits have the advantage of the new SSDR (Single-Seat Deregulated) rule, which allows a heftier airframe (or heftier pilot) with a 300 kilogram (660 pound) gross weight.\u00a0 This rule allows a 35 knot (40.25 mph) stall speed and no maximum speed limit.\u00a0 That makes a grass-strip capable single seater with a cruise of 100 mph a practical reality, and more practical than most ultralights.\u00a0 Chip explains that he will be able to offer aircraft that meet that rule and will operate on electric, gasoline, or hybrid power.<\/p>\n

\"Chip's<\/a>

Chip’s unique battery tubes are neatly emulated by pool floats of the same diameter. Weight and balance considerations limit how many battery cylinders can be fitted here<\/p><\/div>\n

The Experimental Amateur-Built (E-AB) rule, according to Chip, is widely accepted in many countries including the USA and in the European Union. \u00a0A customer must assemble or fabricate at least 51-percent of the aircraft, and the Zigolo ultralight has already been inspected and approved under this rule by the FAA.\u00a0 The Stinger and E\/G-Plane (Merlin in its native Czech Republic) will meet this and SSDR rules. E-AB provides a means to fly before any future certifications<\/p>\n

\"To<\/a>

To expand weight and balance options, six battery cylinders in each wing root spread stresses outward<\/p><\/div>\n

The Zigolo has already been inspected and approved by the FAA for this category. The Stinger and E\/G-Plane will also meet this rule. E-AB provides a path to the market immediately and prior to any future certifications.<\/p>\n

\"Chip<\/a>

Chip wants to fly an electric airplane with amphibious floats, second only to Dale Kramer and his e-Lazair<\/p><\/div>\n

A Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) rule, \u201cOffers an inexpensive path to certification which allows us to sell finished aircraft. There is a provision in the LSA rules for a single-seat aircraft. As the cost of the engine and airframe is much less we can offer a finished SLSA for only $35,000! \u201c\u00a0 A big impediment in the U. S. is the FAA\u2019s exclusion of electric power, with a limitation to \u201creciprocating engines only\u201d to preclude the use of turbine and jet propulsion in the LSA class.\u00a0 This unfortunately precludes the use of electric motors, too.<\/p>\n

How Chip Erwin and other developers work around limitations set by regulations will be interesting to see.\u00a0 We already have the varying interpretations of whether batteries in a Part 103 ultralight constitute part of the aircraft\u2019s empty weight.\u00a0 Adoption of SSDR-type rules, or changes to the SLSA rules would help resolve that issue, and make way for many aircraft that don\u2019t easily fit any existing category now.<\/p>\n

All these rules, existing or potential, avoid entanglement in the always thorny thicket of FAA medical requirements, a happily-avoided problem for many.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, Aeromarine LSA and Chip Erwin are forging ahead with some low-cost alternatives for personal aviation.\u00a0\u00a0 He promises his next newsletter will include either the first flights of his Zigolo ultralight with new electric power or testing of is amphibious floats.\u00a0 That\u2019s an embarrassment of riches which we hope to share soon.<\/p>\n