Electric powered float plane testing
- Thread starter Rockfish
- Start date
cracked_ribs
Well-Known Member
I think I said this elsewhere but from my perspective this is one of the best applications for electric vehicle technology I can think of...predictable usage so you can arrange the charging time; tons of torque necessary to get props churning air; short hops so range not an issue. Also not having to pump saturated wet salty air through your engines at takeoff and landing seems like a plus. I imagine the engines in these are really sealed up compared to gas.
That said I will rue the day that they take the last Wasp-powered Beaver out of the sky.
That said I will rue the day that they take the last Wasp-powered Beaver out of the sky.
Rum Buddies
Well-Known Member
ya but who wants to be on the first one? No thanks.
That is what test pilots are for. However, from what I have read, the simplicity of the design of electric motors compared to fuel based motors, suggests they will be cheaper to build and maintain and safer. It looks like the end of an era though, somewhat like the move from steam powered locomotives to diesel.
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https://vancouversun.com/news/local...st-commercial-electronic-aircraft-in-richmond
Heard on the car radio that the first test flight was a success today. It occurs to me that these are really conversions of aircraft designed and optimized for fuel motors. The next generation may be designed and optimized for electric with things like solar cell charging skins,use of braking force for charging and optimal battery placement (no need for wing tanks) and 20 minute fast charge technology . With rapid advancements in magnet/motor, battery and charging technology short hops seem to be a given and medium hops may not be that far behind.
Heard on the car radio that the first test flight was a success today. It occurs to me that these are really conversions of aircraft designed and optimized for fuel motors. The next generation may be designed and optimized for electric with things like solar cell charging skins,use of braking force for charging and optimal battery placement (no need for wing tanks) and 20 minute fast charge technology . With rapid advancements in magnet/motor, battery and charging technology short hops seem to be a given and medium hops may not be that far behind.
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Cookie's Cutter
Well-Known Member
Lets not all drink the green cool aid just yet. Apparently this plane only had one seat and the pilot took his shoes off before flying the test flight because they were not sure that the plane would make it off the water.
Don’t get me wrong it is a great idea, but this is years away from being a viable commercial operation. A great publicity stunt though.
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