{"id":11388,"date":"2017-04-15T23:32:02","date_gmt":"2017-04-16T06:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11388"},"modified":"2017-04-15T23:32:02","modified_gmt":"2017-04-16T06:32:02","slug":"french-electric-helicopter-has-very-public-outing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/french-electric-helicopter-has-very-public-outing\/","title":{"rendered":"French Electric Helicopter Has Very Public Outing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Volta is a French electric helicopter<\/a>, and has been setting endurance records with almost every flight, it seems.\u00a0 From its first hovering on February 17, 2016, and a first \u201cofficial\u201d three-minute flight on October 19, Volta has risen to new heights and set new \u201cbests\u201d for itself.<\/p>\n

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Volta awaits another test flight<\/p><\/div>\n

Volta is based on\u00a0Microcopter MC1<\/a><\/u>, a one-of-a-kind model designed in 2004. Propelled by a Subaru engine \u201cthat was never successfully regulated,\u201d the MC1 was an ultralight helicopter of conventional design that caused Philippe Antoine to see its possibilities as an electric machine.\u00a0 Incidentally, you may still be able to get plans for the MC1 from Redback Aviation.<\/a><\/p>\n

Antoine replaced the fossil-fuel power train with an electric one, including an Enstroj motor<\/a>.\u00a0 Interestingly, Aquinea, a swimming pool heating vendor<\/a>, sponsors the effort and ENAC, the Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile <\/a>(The National School of Civil Aviation) provides technical support.\u00a0 He has transformed this unassuming-looking copter to cleaner operation, noting the following advantages for an electric craft:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe atmospheric\u00a0pollution is reduced to zero locally. The noise is reduced since there is no\u00a0internal combustion anymore. And\u00a0the maintenance cost is highly reduced, as the power chain is much simpler.<\/p>\n

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Volta’s instrument panel looks conventional, too, with the exception of an interesting glass panel<\/p><\/div>\n

\u200b\u201cVolta is a conventional helicopter, with a main rotor and a variable blade pitch. Compared to drone-like helicopters with a variable spinning speed, Volta is more efficient, has\u00a0auto-rotation<\/a> capability, and is compatible with current airworthiness regulation<\/a>. Volta builds upon decades of experience and experiments on vertical flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working with ENAC\u00a0HCI\u00a0researchers<\/a><\/u>, he developed the avionics for the machine, while test-bedding their djnn technology<\/a><\/u>.\u00a0 This software development tool enables interactive responses between an operator and a machine.<\/p>\n

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Mrs. S\u00e9gol\u00e8ne Royal, Minister of the Environment and Energy, tries out the Volta’s controls<\/p><\/div>\n

Volta weighs 420 kilograms (924 pounds) including 165 kilograms (363 pounds) of batteries, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 520 kilograms (1,144 pounds).\u00a0 Its 22 kilowatt-hour battery pack can provide flight times up to 40 minutes, according to developers.\u00a0 Volta\u2019s motor can put out 90 kilowatts (122 hp.) max and 70 kW (95 hp.) continuously.<\/p>\n

Volta made its \u201cofficial\u201d public flight with the Minister of Environment and Energy Mrs. S\u00e9gol\u00e8ne Royal, on the Heliport of Paris-Issy-les-Moulineaux.\u00a0 Other personalities included the Director General of Civil Aviation, the head of A\u00e9roports de Paris, and the Mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux. \u00a0 The media was much in evidence.<\/p>\n