{"id":5881,"date":"2012-05-26T09:14:28","date_gmt":"2012-05-26T16:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=5881"},"modified":"2012-05-26T14:01:15","modified_gmt":"2012-05-26T21:01:15","slug":"an-atlantic-crossing-with-mid-air-recharging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/an-atlantic-crossing-with-mid-air-recharging\/","title":{"rendered":"An Atlantic Crossing With Mid-Air Recharging"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chip Yates, already famous for his high-speed motorcycle racing with eight world records, four national records, and a world record for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb among others, wants to make aviation history with a flight across the Atlantic<\/a>, emulating Charles Lindbergh\u2019s 1927 crossing \u2013 but this time with an electric airplane.\u00a0 Even more exciting, the voyage is planned to include inflight recharging of the airplane.<\/p>\n

For starters, Yates\u2019 team, composed of aerospace engineers and energy specialists, has purchased a Rutan Long-EZ, removed its gas-burning powerplant, and is converting the airplane to electric power, which they might adapt from Yates\u2019 racing motorcycle, claimed to be the world\u2019s most powerful road-racing electric superbike.\u00a0 That unit puts out 258 horsepower and 400 foot-pounds of torque.<\/p>\n

In its new configuration, the EZ will become the Long-ESA for the Electric Speed and Altitude records it will attempt later in 2012.<\/p>\n