{"id":3184,"date":"2011-04-25T10:01:20","date_gmt":"2011-04-25T17:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=3184"},"modified":"2011-04-25T10:01:20","modified_gmt":"2011-04-25T17:01:20","slug":"electraflyers-near-future-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/electraflyers-near-future-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"ElectraFlyer’s Near Future Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

ElectraFlyer\u2019s <\/a>Randall Fishman and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University were the lone inhabitants with aircraft on hand at the \u201cgreen aviation\u201d display at Sun n\u2019 Fun, exhibiting the modified Stemme and the ElectraFlyer \u201cC\u201d respectively.\u00a0 Having been within a few displays\u2019 distance from the Thursday tornado that destroyed 69 aircraft, damaged many others, and dismantled marquees all around, they were probably fortunate to be there at all.<\/p>\n

Having decided to leave his two-seat ElectaFlyer X back at the shop, Randall had his four-year-old ElectraFlyer on hand, an airplane which hides what he describes as the only currently available electric motor, controller, instrumentation, custom propeller hub, and battery package in its neatly cowled nose, and which has been available for years before Yuneec and Pipistrel announced their systems.\u00a0 He avoids the term, \u201cPlug and Play\u201d because he\u2019s wary of using connector plugs to carry high amperage and high-frequency between the motor and controller, preferring battery cable lugs and bolts for secure connections.<\/p>\n

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ElectraFlyer C's powerplant revealed<\/p><\/div>\n

Others have recognized\u00a0his achievements with AirVenture 2007\u2019s Grand Champion Ultralight Award for his ElectraFlyer Trike and 2008\u2019s Stan Dzik Memorial Award For Design Contribution \u201cfor the installation of the Electric-Motor power train\u201d and the Dr. August Raspet Award.\u00a0 Randall notes that previous winners of the Raspet prize are \u201ca Who\u2019s Who of aviation and I was extremely proud to win it.\u201d\u00a0 Randall treasures the memory of Burt Rutan, a previous Raspet Award winner, dropping by his Oshkosh display to congratulate him.\u00a0 Still a milestone in electric flight history, Randall\u2019s ElectraFlyer C even garnered an innovation award for the Light Sport class at this year\u2019s Sun n\u2019 Fun.<\/p>\n

Randall used the proceeds from his Lindbergh Aviation Grant in 2009 (not to be confused with the twice yearly LEAP awards or the AirVenture \u201cLindies\u201d) to help build his ElectraFlyer X two-seater.\u00a0 In his application for the grant, he listed the many advantages of electric airplanes, including the ability to site multiple small airports near metropolitan areas because of the small noise signature for such craft.\u00a0 He emphasized the \u201cquality of life\u201d issue in noting that electric flight brings quietness and a lack of vibration to the flight experience.<\/p>\n

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ElectraFlyer X, soon to have a more powerful replacement for its current 50 hp unit<\/p><\/div>\n

For the \u201cX,\u201d Randall is working on a new motor prototype, a 9-1\/2-inch diameter brushless unit that puts out 90 peak and 60 continuous horsepower.\u00a0 It\u2019s a synchronous, three-phase, permanent magnet motor, one of three motors ranging from 30 to 90 horsepower peak outputs, 20 to 60 horsepower continuous.<\/p>\n

The 20 hp unit runs on 75 Volts and the 40 and 60 hp motors on 144 Volts.\u00a0 The largest weighs approximately 45 pounds.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Fishman says he has two motors in his shop ready for testing, along with the necessary matching controllers.\u00a0 He hopes to have production motors for sale by AirVenture 2011.<\/p>\n

He is working on other exciting but, for now clandestine, projects, although he will reveal an all-composite ultralight test mule he is using to test a range of motors and controllers.<\/p>\n

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The inexpensive ElectraFlyer Trike with its simple and open power system<\/p><\/div>\n

In the meantime, ElectraFlyer continues to sell what is arguably the least expensive package to allow one to commit aviation electrically.\u00a0 His ElectraFlyer propulsion system comprises: \u201cmotor, electronic controller, power dial and switch, fuse, connectors, ammeter and shunt, voltmeter, custom machined propeller hub, and digital motor temperature display with probe,\u201d according to his web site, and costs a mere $4,600 (batteries not included).\u00a0 He has sold several of these packages, including one to Jerry Booker<\/a>, who launches his Red Tail Hawk motorglider with the system.<\/p>\n

Battery packs range from small (2.75 kilowatt hours), medium (3.3 kWhr) and large (5.6 kWhr), with prices from $4,200 to $8,500.\u00a0 Randall sells a trike package, which includes the motor package, for $7,900.\u00a0 Add a Northwing Stratus wing for $4,990, add a battery pack, and go flying for around $17,000 (with the smallest battery).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jerry is committed to developing low-cost, practical solutions for advancing electric flight, and his next announcements on motors and aircraft should bring\u00a0increased \u00a0interest and recognition.<\/p>\n