Electric training aircraft in the RAF
Thread Starter
Electric training aircraft in the RAF
Electric aircraft
The featured distributor says that the RAF has them. Is this true?
Deepak Mahajan says seven Velis Electros are currently flying in the UK, with an eighth arriving soon. His school at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex, was the first in the country to offer the full private pilot’s licence on electric planes. The RAF also has them as trainers, he said.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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According to Wikipedia, the Danish and Slovenian Air Forces are evaluating the Electros. Suspect maybe a "typo" in the Grauniad?
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Maybe more accurate way of looking at it is that the RAF has looked at and trialled them... https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...rcraft-trials/
Maybe more accurate way of looking at it is that the RAF has looked at and trialled them... https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...rcraft-trials/
It helpfully adds that
Combat planes will remain jet-powered, because they are much faster this way.
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And let's not forget English Electrics finest, a few of those still sitting on gates etc 
This place cracks me up.
A thread about modern electric training aircraft took until post #6 to start talking about jets from the 1960’s. Classic.
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
A thread about modern electric training aircraft took until post #6 to start talking about jets from the 1960’s. Classic.
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Not so sure, Bob. There could well be a place for them with the UAS and AEF units, especially of they can get the endurance up enough to allow a cross-country.
As for jets of the sixties, there could be a whole thread on the question of which was the best English Electric aircraft!!
As for jets of the sixties, there could be a whole thread on the question of which was the best English Electric aircraft!!
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A thread about modern electric training aircraft took until post #6 to start talking about jets from the 1960’s. Classic.
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
For what it’s worth, I think it’d be pretty amazing if the RAF could make use of a fleet of electric aircraft. Assuming they’re capable and practical.
BV
thanks very much.I would have thought a hybrid would be a better bet, bury the engine in the fuselage driving a generator and have an electric engine / prop or two. Or a combination of the two.
Excellent read on the subject
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8207818/
https://www.rolls-royce.com/products...ropulsion.aspx
Hey that would be me... thanks very much.
I would have thought a hybrid would be a better bet, bury the engine in the fuselage driving a generator and have an electric engine / prop or two. Or a combination of the two.
Excellent read on the subject
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8207818/
https://www.rolls-royce.com/products...ropulsion.aspx
thanks very much.I would have thought a hybrid would be a better bet, bury the engine in the fuselage driving a generator and have an electric engine / prop or two. Or a combination of the two.
Excellent read on the subject
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8207818/
https://www.rolls-royce.com/products...ropulsion.aspx
Pipistreal also have a hybrid in development, the Panthera. Or there are hydrogen options
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Having asked the original question I am somewhat relieved that the RAF is looking at this. It makes sense to evaluate all relevant technologies and perhaps to assist the developers to refine their product into a usable format. Too often the thrill of the new is lost because it's not fit for a customer. I was surprised by the comment that they were in use already.
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This has to be the way forward ( watch the film too )
https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/pr...echnology.aspx
I wonder how the heck we will cap check all those batteries.
https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/pr...echnology.aspx
I wonder how the heck we will cap check all those batteries.
I can't help but think that synthetic fuel (made from hydrogen from water and carbon from atmospheric CO2) and hydrogen itself might not offer a better long term option.
I wonder what Willy Hackett thinks?
I wonder what Willy Hackett thinks?
