{"id":9559,"date":"2014-12-24T11:25:29","date_gmt":"2014-12-24T18:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=9559"},"modified":"2014-12-24T11:25:29","modified_gmt":"2014-12-24T18:25:29","slug":"hybrid-motorized-ultralight-sailplane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/hybrid-motorized-ultralight-sailplane\/","title":{"rendered":"A Hybrid Motorized Ultralight Sailplane"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Paul Robertson of the University of Cambridge has been sorting out the necessary components and relationships to make hybrid-electric-gasoline aircraft a practical reality for the last several years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His Photonics and Sensors group at the University researches many areas of optics and electronics, including holography and \u201cnano-photonic structures,\u201d with hybrid flight last on the long list of studies.\u00a0 The blog has been reporting on his aeronautical activities since 2009, including what turned out to be the second and third electric aircraft flights in England<\/a>, and the first flight of an electric-gas hybrid<\/a> in a modified Alatus motorglider.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>

Dr. Paul Dewhurst (right) inspects very compact hybrid power system<\/p><\/div>\n

The current aircraft uses larger power components and is a bit more sophisticated.\u00a0 In fact, an external view would not give away the uniqueness of what nests inside.\u00a0 Its operation has a unique flavor, too \u2013 it\u2019s the first ever, according to reports, that can recharge its batteries in flight<\/a>.<\/p>\n