{"id":11584,"date":"2017-09-14T21:47:55","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T04:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11584"},"modified":"2017-09-22T14:53:45","modified_gmt":"2017-09-22T21:53:45","slug":"smartflyer-challenge-electric-airplanes-fill-swiss-skies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/smartflyer-challenge-electric-airplanes-fill-swiss-skies\/","title":{"rendered":"SmartFlyer Challenge: Electric Airplanes Fill Swiss Skies"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are few times one will see more than one electric airplane at the same place \u2013 outsid<\/u>e of perhaps, Friedrichshafen\u2019s e-Flight Expo every year.\u00a0 But to see them flying at the same field on the same day is an even grander delight.\u00a0 That happened September 9 and 10 at Grenchen, Switzerland.\u00a0 Grenchen hosted the world\u2019s first all-electric fly-in \u2013 the SmartFlyer Challenge<\/a>.\u00a0 It drew an appreciable number of electric aircraft of all sizes and types despite the clouds and rain that kept some from scaling the mountains.<\/p>\n

An Electric Three-Plane Formation Flight<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Siemens-powered Magnus e-Fusion from the Czech Republic, the electric Phoenix motorglider, and Stuttgart University\u2019s e-Genius all flew formation with a Piper L-4, a World War Two liaison aircraft and camera plane.<\/p>\n

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A rare sight – a three electric airplane formation. Frank Anton pilots the Magnus e-Fusion (foreground), followed by the D-14 Phoenix motorglider, and e-Genius. \u00a0Photo courtesy of Jean-Marie Urlacher<\/p><\/div>\n

They joined a commendable group of aircraft on the field. \u00a0All seemed to fly as much as possible during the event, including drag racing a Tesla S sedan down the runway.<\/p>\n

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Electric airshow action with a Tesla S sedan drag racing a Magnus e-Fusion. Photo courtesy of Jean-Marie Urlacher<\/p><\/div>\n

Expatica.com<\/em><\/a> noted, \u201cPilot Frank Anton had never heard applause upon landing. But when the head of electric planes at Siemens touched down in a Magnus E-Fusion craft powered by electricity, he was received like a rock star by photographers and members of the public.\u201d<\/p>\n

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e-Genius does a low fly-by. Photo courtesy of Jean-Marie Urlacher<\/p><\/div>\n

Aircraft on the field included e-Genius, second-place winner of the 2011 Green Flight Challenge.\u00a0 It made the first landing at Grenchen by an electric airplane.\u00a0 Another craft from Stuttgart, Icare 2, is a solar-powered sailplane flying since 1996 and holding many records, set first by its project leader, Rudolf Voit- Nitschmann, and followed with a series set by Klaus Ohlmann.<\/p>\n

Both aircraft have the tail-mounted propeller configuration favored by Voit-Nitschmann, creating only a fraction of the skin friction a front-mounted propeller does.\u00a0 This same configuration is used by the group designing the Smart Flyer, a four-seat hybrid with its base in Grenchen.<\/p>\n

Several trikes flew in, including an A-I-R Atos, which made the first electric takeoff from the field.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/smartflyerchallenge\/videos\/732768810241595\/<\/p>\n

Another craft based on the field, the Votec Evolaris, has a modified Brusa motor and was undergoing runups prior to the fly-in.<\/p>\n

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Votec Evolaris, a powerful aerobatic contender, fills a small space. Note poster for Traveler Hybrid, a four-seat hybrid craft also based in Switzerland. \u00a0Photo courtesy of Jean-Marie Urlacher<\/p><\/div>\n

Two presenters brought slides but no airplanes.\u00a0 Tomas Brodreskift flew by commercial jet from Norway and explained why \u201cThe [Equator] P2 is the next big thing in aviation,\u201d with its amphibious capabilities and advanced hybrid power system.\u00a0 Tine Tomazic and Paolo Romagnolli discussed the creation of the Alpha Electro from design to serial production.<\/p>\n

A full speakers list included an introductory talk by Jean-Luc Charron, president of the French Aeronautical Federation.\u00a0 Frank Anton, head of Siemens electric aircraft motors program, discussed his company\u2019s future in a growing and expanding market.\u00a0 Axel Lange detailed the Antares E2, his still advanced electric sailplane.\u00a0 Others filled in on regulations, technology, and new developments.<\/p>\n

One Facebook picture shows a group with a Rotax engine and hybrid-looking hookup, but little information as to its intended purpose.\u00a0 We will be happy to receive intelligence about this system.\u00a0 This is possibly the power setup for the \u00a0Hybrid Traveler.<\/p>\n

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Possibly the Smart Flyer development team with a Rotax-based hybrid system<\/p><\/div>\n

Another ultralight from the Czech Republic, the Ultralight Design Ego Trike,<\/a> showed its clean lines on the tarmac, also topped by an A-I-R Atos wing.\u00a0 In a display hangar, the French Electric Aircraft Whisper eight-rotor helicopter<\/a> looked intriguing, but there is little detail on their web site to answer questions arising from the craft\u2019s appearance.<\/p>\n

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Rendering of Whisper helicopter shows possible housing for hybrid drive. Web site does not fill in details<\/p><\/div>\n

A Lange motorglider and Silent 2 showed that electric craft have been flying for several years, improving as better batteries become available.\u00a0 A lighter machine, the Ruppert Archaeopteryx, was piloted by Cornelia Ruppert, a company principle.\u00a0 She also made a presentation on her dream of flight, and how this airplane helps fulfill that.<\/p>\n

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Cornelia Ruppert pilots her Archaeopteryx over Grenchen<\/p><\/div>\n

Short symposium sessions allowed time for participants to watch flight demonstrations and inspect craft indoors and out.\u00a0 We can hope that next year\u2019s Challenge, planned for September 1 and 2 has better weather and pulls in an even larger crowd.<\/p>\n

A Note on Some of the Photographs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean-Marie Urlacher<\/a> is a master photographer who raises standards for air-to-air photographs.\u00a0 He kindly consented to allow some of his work to be used in this blog entry.\u00a0 Please visit his web site to be astounded at the clarity and daring of his work.<\/p>\n