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#81
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
"Larry Dighera" wrote in message ... I would be more interested in the specific horsepower required to operate powered parachutes than their efficiency. This web site mentions 50 HP to 65 HP: http://www.all-about-powered-parachutes.com/faq.htm That's what I have seen. We even have a tandem trike locally that uses a Subaru. There is a 14 HP Powered Paraglider (PPG) engine offered he http://www.poweredparasports.com/Par...#Jet%20Details They also state that the weight of their engines ranges from 46 lbs. to 68 lbs. If a 14 HP electric propulsion system weighing 46 lbs could be constructed, apparently it would permit the use of PPGs by pilots up to 180 lbs. I would think that would be close to the bare minimum. I flew a fixed wing hang glider on 10 HP for a while back in the 70s. A Manta Fledgling, and it was very underpowered. Maybe 100 fpm climb or so. |
#82
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
"kontiki" wrote Yeah sure, but its not practical for anything but an hour or two of playing around on a Saturday afternoon. Flight training in the pattern is an obvious first application. |
#83
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
"kontiki" wrote Has anyone done an analysis on the amount of energy required to produce a vehicle like this vs what it will actually "save" during its supposed lifetime? Some of these exotic battery materials and manufacturing techiques take a lot of energy on the front end to produce, and dispose of and/or recycle on the back end. You have to factor that into the net energy gain or loss of actual use of these vehicles. Since the ethanol discussion started, it seems we're starting to see more and more "total industry ecosystem cost" analyses of this type. Anyway the oil supply infrastructure does not come for free either. Even though initial investments are already written off the infrastructure has to be maintained. You might even want to count in the cost of the military power needed to secure access to oil supplies, especially in the future. |
#84
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
On Wed, 8 Aug 2007 01:12:26 -0500, "Maxwell" wrote
in : "Larry Dighera" wrote in message .. . There is a 14 HP Powered Paraglider (PPG) engine offered he http://www.poweredparasports.com/Par...#Jet%20Details They also state that the weight of their engines ranges from 46 lbs. to 68 lbs. If a 14 HP electric propulsion system weighing 46 lbs could be constructed, apparently it would permit the use of PPGs by pilots up to 180 lbs. I would think that would be close to the bare minimum. I flew a fixed wing hang glider on 10 HP for a while back in the 70s. A Manta Fledgling, and it was very underpowered. Maybe 100 fpm climb or so. I would guess the rigid wing would have a higher L/D than a powered parachute's 4:1, so it might require less power. Does that sound correct in your experience? |
#85
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
Larry Dighera wrote:
I have no idea if a one hundred horsepower motor of this type would weigh 100 lbs or not, but it seems reasonable. That's why I showed the first 100HP electric motor I could find. They obviously don't make a 100HP motor of the type you showed or you would have quoted it's specs. I doubt they add the extra 1000 lbs just for the fun of it. |
#86
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:
I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above. "Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power usage on each individual flight." Be sure to let us kneaux when it flies... As of OshGosh, it hadn't... |
#87
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
Darrel Toepfer wrote:
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote: I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above. "Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power usage on each individual flight." Be sure to let us kneaux when it flies... As of OshGosh, it hadn't... Why should I. I'm not the one making the claim. |
#88
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
On Wed, 8 Aug 2007 08:12:37 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in : They obviously don't make a 100HP motor of the type you showed or you would have quoted it's specs. Take a look at the ~75 HP electric motor installed in the Sonex Waiex: http://www.sonexaircraft.com/news/im...light_5947.jpg Exclusive of the two black boxes, the Sonex motor sure doesn't appear to weigh any where near the 1,118 lbs motor you found. My guess would be under 100 lbs. It is custom built for/by Sonex, so I'm not able to quote its specifications. You don't really believe Sonex is using an electric motor that weighs any where near 1,118 lbs, do you. The entire empty weight of the Waiex is only ~620 lbs with a gross weight of 1150 lbs. |
#89
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
On Aug 7, 3:49 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net
wrote: wrote: On Aug 7, 3:04 pm, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote: Larry Dighera wrote: On Tue, 7 Aug 2007 14:51:55 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in : all this talk of electric airplanes while a nice thought is something that at best is way in the future. That's only true if you overlook Randall Fishman's electrically powered ultralight (http://www.electraflyer.com) and Mr. Monnett's Sonex proof-of-concept Waiex aircraft (http://www.sonexaircraft.com/press/r...r_072407.html). But, I know, you were referring to electrically powered aircraft with the same utility as today's GA aircraft, right? Right. When the electric Sonex can do the same thing the VW powered Sonex can do then it will become something more than an interesting idea. I have not seen any significant flight duration claim on the Sonex, which speaks well for the design team. I really hate to burst your bubble but, from the Sonex link above. "Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power usage on each individual flight."- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I also read that but "Expected to be" isn't a claim and 45 minutes is not what I would call significant duration. |
#90
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Electrically Powered Ultralight Aircraft
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote:
Why should I. I'm not the one making the claim. But your the "bubble burst"r... ;-) |
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