{"id":11068,"date":"2016-08-16T17:14:49","date_gmt":"2016-08-17T00:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11068"},"modified":"2016-08-16T17:14:49","modified_gmt":"2016-08-17T00:14:49","slug":"frogworks-unleashes-delta-the-worlds-lightest-electric-paraglider-trike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/frogworks-unleashes-delta-the-worlds-lightest-electric-paraglider-trike\/","title":{"rendered":"Frogworks Unleashes Delta \u2013 the World\u2019s Lightest Electric Paraglider Trike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have a history of creating ultra-lightweight flying machines that are also green \u2013 floating around on electric power.\u00a0 Their earlier effort, Snowstorm, a 24-rotor, single-person lifting device<\/a>, so far has hovered only indoors.<\/p>\n

Eight engineering students, working within the school\u2019s \u201cFrogworks\u201d program, have escaped into the great outdoors with their Delta, the world\u2019s lightest electric paraglider<\/a> \u2013 according to the school.<\/p>\n

\"Lightweight

Lightweight trike, primarily carbon fiber and aluminum, adds only 49 kilograms (107 pounds) to Delta<\/p><\/div>\n

With two eight-kilowatt electric motors, four 14S lithium polymer battery packs, and tricycle landing gear, the Delta weighs in at 49 kilograms (107.8 pounds) empty weight.\u00a0 Delta can carry a 75-kilogram (165 pound) pilot.\u00a0 Cleverly constructed of carbon fiber and aluminum, the craft is claimed to be \u201cthe lightest aircraft in the world that can take off and land with wheels while carrying an adult pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pilot

Pilot Narint Lohathong\u00a0with Delta team following successful test flight for NatGeo<\/p><\/div>\n

Fourth in a series of vehicles designed and built by NUS students in the Design-Centric Program (DCP) at the NUS Faculty of Engineering, the Delta was constructed for a National Geographic television program. \u201cMachine Impossible\u201d<\/a> (viewable only in Asia, alas).\u00a0 Test flown by pilot Narint Lohathong on March 19 at the Sungai Rambai Aerodome in Malacca, Malaysia, the airplane took off quickly but noisily (especially for an electric airplane).<\/p>\n

Its 31-inch propellers might be replaced by longer blades turning slower, a good way to reduce prop noise.\u00a0 That might take bigger, slower-turning motors, and then the age-old problem of greater weight comes to the fore.\u00a0 Right now, the airplane can fly 36 kilometers per hour (22.3 mph) for about six kilometers (3.7 miles).\u00a0 Not a terribly practical commuter, even, Delta is a three-month project meant to suit the needs of a TV show more than the needs of the flying public.<\/p>\n