The first electric aircraft in Australia

[red750]

This item appears in the news section of this site, but appeared this morning of the ABC breakfast show.

 

Australia's first electric plane takes to the skies

 

 

[derekliston]

First manned electric aircraft! A lot of R/C modellers would be quite put out by that article. Lots of electric models around and they are arguably real aircraft, just smaller.

 

 

[w3stie]

That idea has great potential. It's in line with current thinking, and I'd say resistance is useless....

 

 

[derekliston]

That idea has great potential. It's in line with current thinking, and I'd say resistance is useless....

Ohm I goodness!

 

 

[onetrack]

This must be a shock to the IC engine industry. I'll wager they're getting charged up to counter this surge of electrical power, before they're completely fried.

 

 

[Downunder]

Interestingly RAA rego.....

 

This must be a shock to the IC engine industry. I'll wager they're getting charged up to counter this surge of electrical power, before they're completely fried.

Not if current Rotax engine and parts prices are concerned at the moment.

 

We can only hope these electric aircraft put pressure on them. (Or should I say "amp up the pressure")

 

 

[onetrack]

Of course, we're all hoping for some sparkling performance from this aircraft.

 

Now, do you call on a LAME, or your local electrician, when it develops a fault?

 

 

[Marty_d]

It's a lovely plane - have seen some info about this before.

 

However with the price ex factory being 159,000 euros for a 2-seater with 1.5 hours range, I can't see a huge uptake yet.

 

I'd like to see an engine / battery + all connections & engine instrument package offered for sale, so those of us building homebuilts could choose this as an option. Mind you Pipistrel charge 19,500 eu for an additional battery pack, so it's not going to be any cheaper than a Rotax anyway.

 

 

[Gravity]

First manned electric aircraft! A lot of R/C modellers would be quite put out by that article. Lots of electric models around and they are arguably real aircraft, just smaller.

I've been into toy planes for near on 50 yrs, I think I get the gist of the article, hardly think any rc'ers would be put out

 

 

[Gravity]

I believe it will a long time before a viable electric plane will be sold to the masses out there but it's good to see advancements in this area:plane:

 

 

[onetrack]

Mind you Pipistrel charge 19,500 eu for an additional battery pack, so it's not going to be any cheaper than a Rotax anyway.

I never cease to be amazed at the exorbitant cost of anything supplied from Europe. Their pricing is always uncompetitive to me.

I strongly suspect we're being reamed senseless to cover their massive taxes that supports the monstrous EU bureaucracy, their socialist lifestyles, and their huge pensions and perks.

 

 

[onetrack]

I believe it will a long time before a viable electric plane will be sold to the masses out there but it's good to see advancements in this area

It wasn't so very long ago (less than 20 yrs), that a desktop computer cost $2000, took up a huge amount of room, struggled to render complex graphics, slowed up when processing multiple tasks and streaming images.

Today, my $200 smartphone fits in my pocket, and can do more than that 20 yr old computer at 5 times the speed - all on the power of a battery that only takes up less than half my palm in size.

 

Battery technology is being improved at a quantum rate, just as computer chip technology has improved at astronomical rates in the last 20 years.

 

There are hundreds of universities, companies and researchers all racing to reach a new major milestone in battery development, as regards faster charging, higher energy density, and lighter battery weight.

 

There will be battery power breakthroughs in the next 5 to 10 years that will make them very competitive. Automotive manufacturers will be the leaders in development as electric power gradually overhauls IC power in urban vehicles.

 

Aircraft electric power does provide a major obstacle in the need to keep weight down. However, with the average IC engine in light aircraft weighing around 90-120kgs, this gives electric power a sporting chance to compete.

 

 

[Gravity]

It wasn't so very long ago (less than 20 yrs), that a desktop computer cost $2000, took up a huge amount of room, struggled to render complex graphics, slowed up when processing multiple tasks and streaming images.Today, my $200 smartphone fits in my pocket, and can do more than that 20 yr old computer at 5 times the speed - all on the power of a battery that only takes up less than half my palm in size.

Battery technology is being improved at a quantum rate, just as computer chip technology has improved at astronomical rates in the last 20 years.

 

There are hundreds of universities, companies and researchers all racing to reach a new major milestone in battery development, as regards faster charging, higher energy density, and lighter battery weight.

 

There will be battery power breakthroughs in the next 5 to 10 years that will make them very competitive. Automotive manufacturers will be the leaders in development as electric power gradually overhauls IC power in urban vehicles.

 

Aircraft electric power does provide a major obstacle in the need to keep weight down. However, with the average IC engine in light aircraft weighing around 90-120kgs, this gives electric power a sporting chance to compete.

Still don't believe we'll see a viable EP aircraft anytime soon. $30k for a spare battery with a 1000 charge capability for 1.5 hrs per charge, nah not yet! Nothing matches the output of a modern infernal combustion engine for power per pound of fuel. Battery weight, battery cost, very poor endurance risks associated with fast charging Lithium batteries, ability to charge them away from convenient locations as well as the distances that Australia has which aircraft often need to transverse will make EP aircraft for now not practicable, might be alright in the circuit for training and in Europe. Lots of organisations will be hesitant to invest in these at present. Remember when aircraft manufacturers got excited about diesel power planes & Porsche engines? Failed miserably. Still that's just my take on it, a personal opinion, see you back in here in 20 years to see how it's all going

 

 

[Happyflyer]

Still don't believe we'll see a viable EP aircraft anytime soon. $30k for a spare battery with a 1000 charge capability for 1.5 hrs per charge, nah not yet! Nothing matches the output of a modern infernal combustion engine for power per pound of fuel. Battery weight, battery cost, very poor endurance risks associated with fast charging Lithium batteries, ability to charge them away from convenient locations as well as the distances that Australia has which aircraft often need to transverse will make EP aircraft for now not practicable, might be alright in the circuit for training and in Europe. Lots of organisations will be hesitant to invest in these at present. Remember when aircraft manufacturers got excited about diesel power planes & Porsche engines? Failed miserably. Still that's just my take on it, a personal opinion, see you back in here in 20 years to see how it's all going

I don’t think you’ll have to wait 20yrs! I’m surprised that we now have an electric training aircraft in use so soon.

1903: “The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty – a fad.” — President of the Michigan Savings Bank advising Henry Ford’s lawyer, Horace Rackham, not to invest in the Ford Motor Company.

 

 

[prwood]

Try this for size, not sure of pricing Aeros - Trikes & Wings for trike.

 

Believe the first one has arrived in Oz.

 

 

[derekliston]

I've been into toy planes for near on 50 yrs, I think I get the gist of the article, hardly think any rc'ers would be put out

Point is that an R/C aircraft isn’t a toy, it is a real aircraft in miniature. It flies as does a manned one, in accordance with the laws of physics. A Dinky, Corgi or Matchbox car or aeroplane or even an Airfix kit on the other hand is a toy and no, I am not an R/C flier myself.

 

 

[Gravity]

W

 

Point is that an R/C aircraft isn’t a toy, it is a real aircraft in miniature. It flies as does a manned one, in accordance with the laws of physics. A Dinky, Corgi or Matchbox car or aeroplane or even an Airfix kit on the other hand is a toy and no, I am not an R/C flier myself.

Well that's subjective. They are toy planes to me, that's all it means.

 

 

[kgwilson]

If you think electric aircraft for the masses are far off just Google "Electric Aircraft". You will get around 4.9 million results. Airbus will be testing its VTOL unmanned electric aircraft this year and manned next year. It is designed to be pilotless but will have a pilot & 4 passengers until regulations allow.

 

 

[red750]

NASA selects Tecnam P2006T Twin for ‘LEAPTech’

 

 

 

[SDQDI]

If you think electric aircraft for the masses are far off just Google "Electric Aircraft". You will get around 4.9 million results. Airbus will be testing its VTOL unmanned electric aircraft this year and manned next year. It is designed to be pilotless but will have a pilot & 4 passengers until regulations allow.

Getting google results in no way indicates a sure thing.

The tech for electric planes for the masses is already there, the tech for multi rotor electric aircraft is also already there BUT I don’t see it becoming overly affordable in the near future.

 

As for new battery tech, even if a miracle battery was invented tomorrow it would be at least a decade before it became cheap enough to be competitive.

 

That is without talking about certifying/certificating and any nescesary regulations (mainly thinking about fairly automated multi rotors)

 

 

[Gravity]

A friend of mine recently bought a new long wing CTLS or whatever they are called with a 100hp Rotax. Set up in LR cruise it can do almost 8 hrs around 1000 mn under fav conditions, nothing out there today or in the forseable future can come anywhere near those numbers using EP.

 

I hope they do but for now expect Otto's design to be around for a loooong time yet!

 

 

[bexrbetter]

If it doesn't have a claimed 2 hour range, it's not worth looking at, unless, like this one, it has a specific point to point short route with dedicated hi amp power supply at each end.

 

Our Tesla came back home last week, no dedicated charger for a few more days yet, and so we have twice charged off a normal 220V power point ..... 2 days and 2 nights (40 hours) to get a full short charge (80% is standard, 400kms range, 100%, 500kms reccomended only if you are going long distance).

 

A Tesla Supercharger takes 1 hour, and a Tesla Wall Charger (that's what most use at home) takes 6 to 8 hours.

 

I'm guessing this guy has similar to a Wall Charger and probably 2 to 3 hours charging for 1 hour's usage, about 40 to 50 minutes safe flying time. Note that he needs 3 Phase for those amps, how many airfields have a power point handy let alone 3 phase?

 

I have the simple answer for 2 hour range, it HAS TO BE a delta or flying wing type, you simply can not get the space and wing loading with practicability with a normal plane.

 

I have been seriously looking at the Rohr, it would do the job perfectly. So many planes, so little time.

 

rohr 2-175 - Google Search

 

If you didn't see it before, this is my other 110hp JAC electric car simulating a full take off for a VTOL (due to a discussion elsewhere about the new flock of man carrying VTOLs), a hard climb in a plane will get a similar result. In 1.30 minutes, I lost about 10% of my range. Good luck in a strong headwind with that.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJXgqYE_0VI

 

 

[red750]

Video unavailable, here or on Youtube.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Video unavailable, here or on Youtube.

Ok, might be private, let me look ...

 

Ok, was Private, I thought it was the Nun, the Midget and the Donkey video, my mistake, try it now ...

 

 

[pgpete]

1st Electric aircraft (trike) in Australia was done 10 years ago