Volocopter - safest aircraft in the world

Thanks Jonathan, I appreciate your comment.

Best regards from Germany
Klaus

I agree that it's a very interesting project! I also read Charlie's
post and am glad that he got a look at the site and was able to comment
on the project.

I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our gliders
are, aren't they?

On 12/7/2015 8:44 AM, Kilo-Bravo wrote:
Thanks Jonathan, I appreciate your comment.

Best regards from Germany
Klaus

--
Dan, 5J

I just took another look at a full size picture of the Volocopter and a
thought occurs to me: Imagine all control being accomplished by varying
the speed of those motors. Now imagine the beat frequencies generated
by the rotors. You would go quickly insane without a terrific
noise-cancelling headset! What sort of vibrations would that cause in
the airframe? I guess they've addressed that issue...

On 12/7/2015 10:04 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
I agree that it's a very interesting project! I also read Charlie's
post and am glad that he got a look at the site and was able to
comment on the project.

I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our gliders
are, aren't they?

On 12/7/2015 8:44 AM, Kilo-Bravo wrote:
Thanks Jonathan, I appreciate your comment.

Best regards from Germany
Klaus

--
Dan, 5J

--
Dan, 5J

On Monday, December 7, 2015 at 9:04:51 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our
gliders are, aren't they?
Dan, 5J

I suppose one could have also criticized the Wright Flyer for having an impractical powerplant, but that would be missing the point . It is inevitable that battery technology will improve, and when it does, the Volocopter will be ready for it.

Hello Dan,

I fully agree, it all depends on better batteries with more power-density.
After this first success of "bevor unknown people", I would not bee supprised, if Airbus-Helicopters would´nt be interested in this little company and buy up the wrights. Time will show.

Rgds Klaus

On Monday, December 7, 2015 at 12:04:51 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:

I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our
gliders are, aren't they?

--

Dan, 5J

Did you see where the site mentioned they were looking at/working on a "hybrid"? Until battery energy density improves (a lot) they will add in a small generator to extend flight time.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 8:26:48 AM UTC-6, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
On Monday, December 7, 2015 at 12:04:51 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:

I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our
gliders are, aren't they?

--

Dan, 5J

Did you see where the site mentioned they were looking at/working on a "hybrid"? Until battery energy density improves (a lot) they will add in a small generator to extend flight time.

I hate to break it to you all but the time when battery capacity will approach the density of carbon fuels will come - never. I read up on that subject and there are limits in the direct conversion of chemical energy into electricity (which is what batteries do) that indicate we are not so far away from those now. We may improve by a factor of 2 but that is not what is needed to make electric flight a x-country activity. It boils down to the physics that chemistry is based on - and we understand those laws very well.
Herb

I saw that and think it's a good compromise - just like a
diesel-electric locomotive. I don't think batteries will achieve the
power density needed for practical cross country flight in my lifetime,
but that's no reason not to push the boundaries.

On 12/8/2015 7:26 AM, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
On Monday, December 7, 2015 at 12:04:51 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:

I also agree that newer battery technology is needed to make this
anything more than a high-priced toy, but then that's what our
gliders are, aren't they?
--

Dan, 5J
Did you see where the site mentioned they were looking at/working on a "hybrid"? Until battery energy density improves (a lot) they will add in a small generator to extend flight time.

--
Dan, 5J

Dear pilot-friends,

mainly interesting discussion, despite using it as hey-mower, which is not worth to be discussed.

Beginning with Lilienthal, Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Students of Darmstadt, Horten brothers, Wernher von Braun, Bertrand Piccard, just to name a few of earlier "fools", the time they presented their ideas, the overall laughter was assured "it never works!!!"
Most of those visionary aviators succeeded, some of them sure payed with their life for the idea.
Just because time was not ready for the idea at that time, material or production knowledge not yet available.
Would anybody had believed 80 years ago, man ever could fly to the moon and take a walk at its surface? To build a huge and heavy craft like a B747 or an A380?
Or 10 years ago, to build an electric powered twin-trainer like the Pipistrel, operated by quick-change battery-units small enough to fit in an ultralight trainer carrying two people and enabling flight training lasting 45 minutes?

Or the Airbus E-Van, a twin-trainer 550 kg empty-weight, max-speed 220km/h, battery-power at the moment just 40 minutes, but they are convinced of longer lasting batteries for the near future.

Sure nobody would have believed in all those "foolish ideas" 10, 20 or even 50 years ago. All of those foolish ideas came true. They are reality these days.

@ Even
Not being able to glide or autorotate is the worst case for any aircraft of course. Could be loosing an elevator or part of a wing, destruction of the free-wheeling clutch of a chopper or loosing a blade. All of this sure happened in the past - death trap as someone called it. The pilot of the Volocopter still has a last chance by activating its BRS and touch the ground safely, while a common chopper just falls out of the sky like a stone.

@ Herb and Dan
I´m fully convinced, we will have those battery density 2, maybe not in yours or my lifetime, but sometime later. Who cares about that? We already have fully electric-driven airplanes like the Sunseaker with battery and additional solar-cells at top of the wings, so they easily do cross-country flights.
Or the Solar Impulse of Bertrand Piccard, who does a flight around the world without a single drop of fuel, just by solar-power. Not yet compleated, but non-stop five days and 5 nights in the air, thats grate, thats future and thats not a simple ultralight by weight and wingspan!

Take a look at Dean Sigler´s fantastic website "http://blog.cafefoundation.org/". A scientist-based highly qualified website, where you can see what´s possibly already and what scientists all over the world are working at and what they think about future possibilities in battery-density - thinks like that.

Or check the websites of NASA, what scientists and students develop at research-places like the Armstrong Research Center: http://www.nasa.gov/aero/students-el...rplane-designs
High Voltage Hybrid ElectricPropulsion: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstron..._showcase.html

Great scientific visions I believe in to become true and sincerely hope to see one or the other getting true in my time of life.

Best regards from Germany

Klaus

Klaus,

I like your fire. Keep it up!

Regards and best of luck,
Dan

On 12/9/2015 3:28 AM, Kilo-Bravo wrote:
Dear pilot-friends,

mainly interesting discussion, despite using it as hey-mower, which is not worth to be discussed.

Beginning with Lilienthal, Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Students of Darmstadt, Horten brothers, Wernher von Braun, Bertrand Piccard, just to name a few of earlier "fools", the time they presented their ideas, the overall laughter was assured "it never works!!!"
Most of those visionary aviators succeeded, some of them sure payed with their life for the idea.
Just because time was not ready for the idea at that time, material or production knowledge not yet available.
Would anybody had believed 80 years ago, man ever could fly to the moon and take a walk at its surface? To build a huge and heavy craft like a B747 or an A380?
Or 10 years ago, to build an electric powered twin-trainer like the Pipistrel, operated by quick-change battery-units small enough to fit in an ultralight trainer carrying two people and enabling flight training lasting 45 minutes?

Or the Airbus E-Van, a twin-trainer 550 kg empty-weight, max-speed 220km/h, battery-power at the moment just 40 minutes, but they are convinced of longer lasting batteries for the near future.

Sure nobody would have believed in all those "foolish ideas" 10, 20 or even 50 years ago. All of those foolish ideas came true. They are reality these days.

@ Even
Not being able to glide or autorotate is the worst case for any aircraft of course. Could be loosing an elevator or part of a wing, destruction of the free-wheeling clutch of a chopper or loosing a blade. All of this sure happened in the past - death trap as someone called it. The pilot of the Volocopter still has a last chance by activating its BRS and touch the ground safely, while a common chopper just falls out of the sky like a stone.

@ Herb and Dan
I´m fully convinced, we will have those battery density 2, maybe not in yours or my lifetime, but sometime later. Who cares about that? We already have fully electric-driven airplanes like the Sunseaker with battery and additional solar-cells at top of the wings, so they easily do cross-country flights.
Or the Solar Impulse of Bertrand Piccard, who does a flight around the world without a single drop of fuel, just by solar-power. Not yet compleated, but non-stop five days and 5 nights in the air, thats grate, thats future and thats not a simple ultralight by weight and wingspan!

Take a look at Dean Sigler´s fantastic website "http://blog.cafefoundation.org/". A scientist-based highly qualified website, where you can see what´s possibly already and what scientists all over the world are working at and what they think about future possibilities in battery-density - thinks like that.

Or check the websites of NASA, what scientists and students develop at research-places like the Armstrong Research Center: http://www.nasa.gov/aero/students-el...rplane-designs
High Voltage Hybrid ElectricPropulsion: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstron..._showcase.html

Great scientific visions I believe in to become true and sincerely hope to see one or the other getting true in my time of life.

Best regards from Germany

Klaus

--
Dan, 5J