{"id":8226,"date":"2013-09-08T09:23:35","date_gmt":"2013-09-08T16:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=8226"},"modified":"2013-09-08T09:23:35","modified_gmt":"2013-09-08T16:23:35","slug":"green-speed-cup-training-day-is-over-and-day-one-establishes-a-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/green-speed-cup-training-day-is-over-and-day-one-establishes-a-record\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Speed Cup \u2013 Training Day is Over and Day One Establishes a Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happily for those of us who champion the idea of electric aircraft, the practice day and day one of the Green Speed Cup<\/a> in Strausberg, Germany fetched a world electric aircraft distance record for e-Genius and an outstanding showing for all concerned.\u00a0 This beginning for the third running of the Cup sets a high standard for the coming days.<\/p>\n

\"Dimona<\/a>

Dimona motorglider leads GSC competitors on flight line. Number of non-Stemme aircraft increased this year<\/p><\/div>\n

The Green Speed Cup has elements of soaring flight through the use of thermals, careful speed flying that emphasizes fuel economy, and precise flight planning with attention to the planned route, winds aloft, and power settings.<\/p>\n

Green Speed Cup organizers map out a series of triangular routes to test the limits of piloting skills and airplane efficiency.\u00a0 As the organizers explain, it’s all pretty simple: “To fly ‘green’ you have to know how fast to fly and which power setting to use. This depends on the current wind-profile, on the current lift and on several other parameters like the aerodynamical properties.”\u00a0 Currency of conditions implies that a pilot needs to respond to clues in the ever-changing atmosphere and take advantage of every opportunity to optimize his or her flight path.<\/p>\n

\"Diamond<\/a>

Diamond DA-40 TDI lifts off, the only diesel-powered aircraft in the contest<\/p><\/div>\n

Cup organizers score each day’s event with a simple formula: the winner gets 1,000 points for the best ratio of fuel consumption to distance and speed, with other competitors earning points in proportion to their performance on the same formula.<\/p>\n

They also provide tools for calculating optimum speeds to fly, assessing the weather for thermals and winds along the routes, and calculating the \u201cmaximum reachable GSC points depending on your aircraft and the weather.\u201d\u00a0 Organizers admit the beta tool is a bit optimistic, which could create problems for aircraft like the e-Genius, which is testing its range in a 405 kilometer (251.1 mile) triangle, almost 50 miles more than its 2011 Green Flight Challenge distance.<\/p>\n

\"e-Genius<\/a>

e-Genius on its way to an unofficial world distance record for electric aircraft<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s task of the GSC was a big challenge for every participant\u00a0concerning the best efficiency,\u00a0but\u00a0especially\u00a0for the electric aircraft e-Genius. There was never a longer flight of a two seated electric aircraft before.\u00a0Klaus Ohlmann managed that task with\u00a0brilliance.\u00a0He used 43kWh for the whole triangular track. A\u00a0strong wind and only very weak thermals (~1m\/s) furnished the evidence that this amazing aircraft is a really usable for daily use\u00a0and promises comfortable ranges for this class of aircraft.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe e-Genius team took the risk and managed the record, even without admitting it up front.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the practice day, with a flight of e-Genius consumed the equivalent of 1.9 liters per 100 kilometers, or 123.79 US mpg. With both seats occupied, this would be the equivalent of 247.58 passenger miles per gallon, less than the craft\u2019s 387.3 ppmg achieved in the Green Flight Challenge, but at a speed of 179.1 km\/hour, or 111 mph \u2013 a bit faster than GFC speeds and on a shorter course (157 km. or 97.34 miles), which made the takeoff and climb a bigger part of the energy use profile.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The littlest aircraft in the GSC, the SD-1 has a big crew<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s informative to see how internal-combustion craft fared in comparison.\u00a0 The little SD-1, unable to compete last year because of airworthiness quibbles, did well in second place, managing 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers at a speed of 144.6 km\/hr. (89.65 mph).\u00a0 In a GFC type competition, it would have lost points in its lower ppmg performance.\u00a0 The lowest-ranked Stemme, an S6 in seventh place, consumed 10.5 liters per 100 kilometers (22.40 mpg) at a speed 0.1 km\/hr. lower than the SD-1.<\/p>\n

The first day of official competition improved results for everyone, because the 405 kilometer (251.1 mile) distance reduced the proportion of takeoff and climb for the overall run and thus improved per-mile \u201cfuel burn\u201d for every competitor.<\/p>\n

Successfully reaching the end of the day\u2019s run gave e-Genius and pilot Klauss Ohlmann an unofficial record for electric flight.\u00a0 Although flown at a slower pace to conserve energy, the 157.8 km\/hr. (97.84 mph) speed and use of the equivalent of only 1.2 liters per 100 kilometer (196.01 mpg or 392.02 ppmg) exceeded its GFC performance.<\/p>\n

By contrast, the second-place SD-1 flown by Tim Peter-Voss managed 147 km\/hr. (91.14 mph) and consumed 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers or 63.57 mpg.\u00a0 The 10th<\/sup> place S6 turned 144.6 km\/hr. (89.65 mph) and consumed 8.7 liters per 100 km. (27.04 mpg or 54.08 ppmg).<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll analyze more results for day 2 and examine factors in e-Genius\u2019 clear superiority for such events.\u00a0 The GSC is a clear indication that aircraft such as this have practical abilities to compete with more traditional aircraft, and seeing whether Klauss Ohlman can keep up the high standard established so far will be fascinating.<\/p>\n