GP 14 Update and Video of Innovative Motor Deployment System for GP14 E Motorglider

On Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 10:41:37 PM UTC-8, krasw wrote:
The published masses of E-model are just not realistic. GP website says 135 kg empty weight for pure glider and 170 kg for electric one. Even production glider mass is bound to be higher than specified (it invariably is). Current FES installations with 4 kWh batteries weigh 70-75 kg extra with over 30 kg for batteries alone. How an earth GP is going to pull of this feat, doing the whole installation with 35kg weight penalty? FES installations have very little structure for motor/propeller, whereas GP uses complex mast (which looks nice BTW) and doors. It seems quite clear that to participate 13.5m comp you would have to strip pretty much everything from GP-E.


Where do you get 75 kg for FES weight? I see 45 kg on the FES website.

On Sunday, 27 December 2015 08:54:46 UTC+2, wrote:
On Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 10:41:37 PM UTC-8, krasw wrote:
The published masses of E-model are just not realistic. GP website says 135 kg empty weight for pure glider and 170 kg for electric one. Even production glider mass is bound to be higher than specified (it invariably is). Current FES installations with 4 kWh batteries weigh 70-75 kg extra with over 30 kg for batteries alone. How an earth GP is going to pull of this feat, doing the whole installation with 35kg weight penalty? FES installations have very little structure for motor/propeller, whereas GP uses complex mast (which looks nice BTW) and doors. It seems quite clear that to participate 13.5m comp you would have to strip pretty much everything from GP-E.


Where do you get 75 kg for FES weight? I see 45 kg on the FES website.

That's pretty consistently the difference in empty weight when comparing FES-equipped glider to similar pure glider. Check LAK-17B for example.

On Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 12:51:15 PM UTC-6, lynn wrote:
On Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 7:44:01 PM UTC-8, Tim wrote:
Hello All:

While progress has not been as quick as we had hoped for, plans are moving forward to take the GP 14 E Motorglider to first flight very early in the new year and then for first customer deliveries soon after just in time for the beginning of the European racing calendar.

For a taste of what is to come, please have a look at the two links below for "first Look" at the innovative pylon/motor deployment system for this new motorglider in the 13.5 Meter Class.

https://www.facebook.com/gpgliders/v...95333550523888

https://www.facebook.com/gpgliders/v...95321143858462

- Quick Deployment (@ 5 seconds to deployment and power on)
- Minimal Deployed Drag (Pre-start/Post-shutdown)
- No Aligning of the Prop for Quick Stowage (@5 seconds to full retraction from power off)

Pretty cool!

Tim McAllister "EY"
GP Gliders USA

Tim, Do you have a price list? Will there be any sales presence at the SSA Convention?

Lynn et. al.:

GP 14 and GP 14 S list at 57,500 Euro
GP 14 E and GP 14 SE list at 74,750 Euro

Please note, Promotional Pricing remains in effect and may be extended to more than the first 15 gliders ordered - likely until spring of 2016.

For those willing to deposit between 50% and 100% of your order, you will get between 10% and 20% off the total order price (base glider PLUS options, including trailer) A pretty sweet deal and one that will not go on forewever.

AND YES, there will be a sales presence (booth) at the SSA Convention.

Tim
GP Gliders USA

Tim,

That motor looks different and the power is also different than FES. Is this motor made by FES or you just calling it that generically? GP web site says "also come with electric self-launch versions" with no mention of FES.

I can understand the lower power motor due to lower weight and maybe design. And the cost should be less than a FES as well. Just curious of the motor and battery manufacturer.

Should be a big competitor for other 13.5 and FES gliders.

On Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 8:04:19 AM UTC-8, Casey Cox wrote:
Tim,

That motor looks different and the power is also different than FES. Is this motor made by FES or you just calling it that generically? GP web site says "also come with electric self-launch versions" with no mention of FES.

I can understand the lower power motor due to lower weight and maybe design. And the cost should be less than a FES as well. Just curious of the motor and battery manufacturer.

Should be a big competitor for other 13.5 and FES gliders.

A search for "Interview with Jerzy Peszke 30 January 2015" gets an interview where Peszke says that the batteries weigh 20 kg (versus 32 kg for the FES). Of course, it is not clear how the GP 14 gets the same range as a FES glider like the Silent Electro 2, yet has batteries that weigh only 2/3 as much.

A search for "Interview with Jerzy Peszke 30 January 2015" gets an interview where Peszke says that the batteries weigh 20 kg (versus 32 kg for the FES). Of course, it is not clear how the GP 14 gets the same range as a FES glider like the Silent Electro 2, yet has batteries that weigh only 2/3 as much.

Thanks. I see that he states the power plant can produce 3 launches to 500m. I heard that the Silent does 3 launches as well but don't know the height nor reserve power.

This is an exciting glider and can't wait to see more videos of it in action.

This one is going to change the world!

We have one (or two) coming to Ionia. I cannot wait to fly it.

On Sunday, 27 December 2015 19:33:58 UTC+2, wrote:

A search for "Interview with Jerzy Peszke 30 January 2015" gets an interview where Peszke says that the batteries weigh 20 kg (versus 32 kg for the FES). Of course, it is not clear how the GP 14 gets the same range as a FES glider like the Silent Electro 2, yet has batteries that weigh only 2/3 as much.

FES installations use total of 4,2 kWh battery capacity with mass of 30+ kg.. GP states it has 4 kWh battery capacity. To get that from 20 kg commercially available battery would be nothing short of sensational.

On Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 10:04:19 AM UTC-6, Casey Cox wrote:
Tim,

That motor looks different and the power is also different than FES. Is this motor made by FES or you just calling it that generically? GP web site says "also come with electric self-launch versions" with no mention of FES.

I can understand the lower power motor due to lower weight and maybe design. And the cost should be less than a FES as well. Just curious of the motor and battery manufacturer.

Should be a big competitor for other 13.5 and FES gliders.

Casey:

While "FES" has been, and probably may be, considered for future installations should the market demand it, GP Gliders will not be offered with "FES" the foreseeable future. However, the GP Glider Team's system should prove a very effective system while minimizing drag penalities associated with FES, and acheiving "FES"-like deployment times when compared to many traditional boom deployed systems. The GP 14 is meant to be the ultimate expression of innovation and performance inthe 13.5 meter span, for which an equally innovative and performance-minded self-launch system has been designed.

GP Gliders are offered with Electric Self-Launch/Sustainer capability using its own fuselage and boom deployment system deploying a standard motor (15 kW)/controller produced by JETI of Czech Republic and now offering an upgraded 25 kW motor produced by Rotex of Czech Republic for those wishing for better hot/high and higher wingloading self-launch capability. The batte4ry packs will be produced in-house using Sony components at this time.

The unique motor deployment system as well as the fuselage boom mounting offers many advantages to the "FES" including:
- Less overall drag
- Minimal deployed/unpowered system drag
- Fast deployment to Power On (@6 seconds)
- More Propulsive Efficiency (including Peszke optimized folding propellers)
- Power Off and Immediate Stow (no aligning propeller with boom)
- among other advantages

Tim McAllister
GP Gliders USA