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#1
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
How about 100% electric powered ultralights?
What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work (aside from air traffic issues... it IS a big sky after all)? I understand the average commute is less than 30 miles in land based vehicles which would generally mean less than a 30 minute flight for most people. Of course, ultralights are currently restricted from flying over neighborhoods, so there would have to be some changes in regulations for the average person to take off & land an aircraft from their front drive, but wouldn't it be a reasonable idea? And, by the way... does anyone know of a decent 100% electric ultralight aircraft with plans available for homebuilders? |
#2
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
I think one of the hardships of designing an electric ultralight would
be keeping the weight below limits (which is an empty weight of 254 pounds in the USA)... YouHelpBuild.com wrote: How about 100% electric powered ultralights? What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work (aside from air traffic issues... it IS a big sky after all)? I understand the average commute is less than 30 miles in land based vehicles which would generally mean less than a 30 minute flight for most people. Of course, ultralights are currently restricted from flying over neighborhoods, so there would have to be some changes in regulations for the average person to take off & land an aircraft from their front drive, but wouldn't it be a reasonable idea? And, by the way... does anyone know of a decent 100% electric ultralight aircraft with plans available for homebuilders? -- Scott http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/ Gotta Fly or Gonna Die Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version) |
#3
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
"YouHelpBuild.com" wrote in message ... What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work You could try your question on rec.aviation.ultralights for a much better answer. But first, please take a look around you. How many people do you know who commute with ultralight aircraft? I can count all of the ultralight commuters I have ever seen on the fingers of no hands. There are many good reasons why few folks commute in small aircraft, any kind of small aircraft. Vaughn |
#4
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message ... "YouHelpBuild.com" wrote in message ... What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work You could try your question on rec.aviation.ultralights for a much better answer. But first, please take a look around you. How many people do you know who commute with ultralight aircraft? I can count all of the ultralight commuters I have ever seen on the fingers of no hands. There are many good reasons why few folks commute in small aircraft, any kind of small aircraft. Vaughn rec.aviation.homebuilt might be another appropriate place for the first post in this thread. Wayne HP-14 "6F" http://www.soaridaho.com/ |
#5
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
To keep under the weight limit, you'll have about as much available
electrical energy as a large flashlight. Human power would be more feasible. Mike |
#6
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
On Nov 16, 6:17�am, Mike the Strike wrote:
To keep under the weight limit, you'll have about as much available electrical energy as a large flashlight. Human power would be more feasible. Mike See www.solar-flight.com |
#7
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
Although weight is a factor (254#), the ElectricFlyer
is doing well. Has any one looked into an FAA ELOS (Equivalent Level of Safety) or Exemption? The LSA category opens up a whole new world, too. |
#8
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
What is the Sunseeker empty weight? Top Speed? Does it in fact meet
the requirements for an ultralight aircraft? That was the original question (is it a legal ultralight?)... wrote: See www.solar-flight.com -- Scott http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/ Gotta Fly or Gonna Die Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version) |
#9
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
On Nov 16, 12:39 am, "YouHelpBuild.com"
wrote: How about 100% electric powered ultralights? What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work (aside from air traffic issues... it IS a big sky after all)? While not quite on the subject, a fellow built a very light (Benson- type) helicopter to commute to a company I use to work for. He landed it on the corporate helipad. By the time people were through beating him on the head for such an act, he finally was allowed to truck it away with an escort. I'm glad he was at ground level or he would have had to dismantle it. Personally I thought it made perfect sense. It was a very well built machine and he was an expert pilot with about an 18 mile commute over a typically jammed freeway. The fire marshals and the insurance companies were the main attackers, not the FAA. Greg |
#10
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I know there are electric powered sailplanes but
Isn't a Benson a gyrocopter, not a helicopter? Gyrocopters can't hover,
they rely on airspeed to spin the rotor, correct? Scott gfoster07k wrote: On Nov 16, 12:39 am, "YouHelpBuild.com" wrote: How about 100% electric powered ultralights? What problems can anyone forsee to building a 100% electric ultralight aircraft for short & mid-range commuters to get back & forth to work (aside from air traffic issues... it IS a big sky after all)? While not quite on the subject, a fellow built a very light (Benson- type) helicopter to commute to a company I use to work for. He landed it on the corporate helipad. By the time people were through beating him on the head for such an act, he finally was allowed to truck it away with an escort. I'm glad he was at ground level or he would have had to dismantle it. Personally I thought it made perfect sense. It was a very well built machine and he was an expert pilot with about an 18 mile commute over a typically jammed freeway. The fire marshals and the insurance companies were the main attackers, not the FAA. Greg -- Scott http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/ Gotta Fly or Gonna Die Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version) |
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