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Sun Flyer 2 electric Part 23 airplane took flight for the first time; endurance of 3.5 hours
https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/new...-232297-1.html Sun Flyer Flies With Siemens By Russ Niles | February 17, 2019 RELATED ARTICLES Ray Aviation Scholarships Awarded by EAA Garmin GPS 155 TSO Turns 25 Icon Demo Prompts Emergency Response We're Way Better Than We Used To Be Bye Aerospace’s Sun Flyer 2 electric Part 23 airplane took flight for the first time with its intended production configuration on Feb. 8 and President George Bye said all went well. The two-seat aircraft, which Bye intends to be fully certified, flew with the Siemens-built SP70D motor with a maximum of 120 horsepower and maximum continuous power of 94 horsepower. The motor only weighs 57 pounds and Bye is predicting the aircraft will be certified with a three-hour endurance with VFR reserves. Bye is targeting the flight training market with the Sun Flyer 2, predicting it will slash operating costs for schools and make flight training more accessible. It’s also planning a four-place version. The propulsion and battery package is critical to those goals and Siemens spokesman Dr. Frank Afton said the Feb. 8 flight marks a milestone. “This successful test flight is a proud moment for the Siemens and Bye Aerospace teams and marks a milestone in bringing the age of electric flight to life." Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0TKoq-b3nA Comments (4) This is what the future looks like. At least as significant, from the bye aerospace website: "Sun Flyer 2's program application to the FAA was accepted under FAR 23 certification criteria in the spring of 2018. The Sun Flyer 2 prototype will conduct extensive additional flight test activities in 2019 and continue to work closely with FAA representatives on certification activities." Oftentimes, all you gotta do is ask. Posted by: Rollin Olson | February 18, 2019 12:48 AM "The motor only weighs 57 pounds." Great. But how much do its batteries and associated hardware weigh? Apples-to-apples, please. Posted by: YARS (Tom Yarsley) | February 18, 2019 6:49 AM Building a high efficiency, high performance electric motor is relatively easy. Building a battery pack with similar performance that does not eat up all your useful load is another matter. I wish them luck. Posted by: John McNamee | February 18, 2019 10:07 AM I have not been able to find an engineering performance analysis to back up any of the SunFlyer 2 performance claims, in particular, its claimed endurance of 3.5 hours. Does such a credible performance analysis exist? Posted by: Paul Madden | February 18, 2019 11:59 AM ----------------------------------------------- https://www.byeaerospace.com/ Bye Aerospace is a world leader and innovator of electric and solar-electric aircraft. The company, which was founded in 2007 and is headquartered near Denver at Centennial Airport, is developing and flight testing prototypes of all-electric general aviation training, personal and business aircraft, and medium and high altitude solar-electric long endurance UAVs, focusing on advances in energy and design efficiencies. We are growing and revolutionizing the general aviation, aerospace and defense industries. In fact, Bye Aerospace was named one of the “Top 50 Colorado Companies to Watch” for 2017, and Denver Business Journal selected Bye Aerospace as the “Small Business Award” category winner for 2018. ---------------------------------------------------------------- “The Bye Aerospace all-electric Sun Flyer will be 1st to market with the world’s first FAA certified electric aircraft.” George Bye, CEO SUN FLYER Established in February 2014, the Sun Flyer program was created by Bye Aerospace to produce the two seat “Sun Flyer”, and for it to be fully certified under the new FAR 23, and bring it to market. We intend to serve general aviation by providing a clean, renewable energy, electric training aircraft. As of December 2018 we have 220 deposits, split evenly between the Sun Flyer 2 and Sun Flyer 4. Check out the video of the Sun Flyer 2 prototype in flight below. ELECTRIC TRAINING AIRCRAFT This two-seat aircraft will change the way pilots train. The cost-efficient aircraft will enable new pilots to train without prohibitive fuel costs. A FEW WORDS FROM GEORGE BYE Check out this exciting speech from CEO, George Bye at the Sun Flyer Roll out Event on May 11, 2016: https://youtu.be/NCzv2rqpSOQ SUN FLYER PRICING Starting in 2019, the Sun Flyer 2 is priced at $349,000 and requires a $5,000 deposit. The 4-seat Sun Flyer 4 is priced at $449,000 and requires a $10,000 deposit. SUN FLYER MARKET Demand for new airline pilots has increased dramatically. According to Boeing (2018), an estimated 790,000 new commercial and airline pilots are needed, (up from 637,000 estimated in 2017) over the next 20 years. This is over a 5-fold increase of the 150,000 airline pilots flying today and a timely market entry for the high-tech Sun Flyer trainer. To meet this pilot training demand, it is estimated that 66,000 training aircraft are needed over this 20-year time period. In addition, we estimate 9,000 of the existing fleet of 15,000 flight trainers will be replaced due to cost and age-related issues leaving a net of 60,000 new training aircraft to meet the Boeing estimated global demand of new pilots. Of this total, the Sun Flyer target market is 20,000 units ($7.2B potential market) over 20 years. The existing 230,000-unit General Aviation fleet is ripe for replacement. The majority of these aircraft were manufactured between 1960 and 1983 when production averaged over 10,000 units per year. Sales slumped in the early 1980’s due to rising fuel cost and high interest rates. According to the FAA and GAMA, there were 10,800 two-seat trainers in use, with an average 48-years old over 10 years ago in 2008. These old aircraft are difficult and costly to maintain, burn expensive leaded avgas producing CO2, and are nearing obsolescence. |
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