{"id":12564,"date":"2020-08-14T19:05:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T02:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=12564"},"modified":"2020-08-14T19:05:02","modified_gmt":"2020-08-15T02:05:02","slug":"two-new-electric-sailplanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/two-new-electric-sailplanes\/","title":{"rendered":"Two New Electric Sailplanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two electric sailplanes come from different ends of the soaring spectrum and each shows its own unique character.\u00a0 Their differences are as noteworthy as their geographic separation.<\/p>\n

Birdy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Birdy is a single-seat, electrically powered motor glider<\/a> that fits the European Union 120 kilogram class.\u00a0 The 264-pound empty weight puts it 10 pounds above America\u2019s FAA Part 103 254-pound limit.\u00a0 But Euro craft in that category are not as limited in top or cruise speed.<\/p>\n

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Birdy in alpine setting showing its folded propeller for minimum drag<\/p><\/div>\n

Birdy\u2019s light weight required clever arrangement of components to enable a maximum takeoff weight of 280 kilograms (616 pounds) and pilots up to 1.95 meters (6\u2019 5\u201d) tall.\u00a0 Its 13.5-meter (44.29-foot) wingspan carries only 13.9 pounds per foot, enabling 40:1 glide ratio at around 90 kilometers per hour (55.8 mph). \u00a0Its 8.3 square meter (89.3 square foot) wing area lifts only 6.89 pounds per square foot, enabling a 63 km\/hr (39 mph) stall speed with flaps.\u00a0 Birdy can top out at 180 km\/hr (111.6 mph), well above FAA ultralight constraints.\u00a0 Since it\u2019s a sailplane, that may not count here.<\/p>\n

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It can operate in a highly independent way, able to take off on its own power and capable of being recharged by its \u201coptional trailer with photovoltaic modules, [and] does not require any other infrastructure or auxiliary personnel other than a take-off and landing field.\u201d<\/p>\n