Change of government needed for electric air race?

[gerry111]

Thanks for your fascinating link, Guptar.

(But the APS team may have a view regarding: "Shock cooling"?)

[rutan around]

That’s because under Smith’s plan, the 2019 air race would be restricted to a very special type of aircraft: one that has zero greenhouse emissions in flight.

So far no one has mentioned any alternatives to battery/electric power. A couple come to mind. Hydrogen fueling either a fairly standard internal combustion engine or better still a fuel cell engine. To be completely zero greenhouse emissions the hydrogen would have to be made by splitting water using electricity. That electricity could be made by any one of a number of green power generators. Solar, wind, hydro, geo-thermal and wave are a few that come to mind. Dick's competition could be just whats needed to prod hydrogen storage along. We do indeed live in exciting times due much more to innovators like Dick than our leading from behind politicians.

[tail wheel]

Lots of academic reports available showing coal generated electricity cost around $40 per megawatt hour where as photovoltaic (soloar cells) costs $120 per megawatt hour.

Coal generated costs $40 per MWh = $0.04 per kWh. So why does electricity from the grid cost $0.23 per kWh?

My home solar installation cost $13,000, although prices are dropping rapidly. I have a 12.8 kWh solar storage battery and generate an average 35 kWh per day, 12,775 kWh per year, 127,750 kWh over the anticipated decade life of my solar installation = $0.10 per kWh or $101.75 per MWh.

I am paid $0.06 per kWh feed in tariff which the Government owned power generator resells for $0.23 per kWh.

What Dick is proposing is totally feasible, indeed almost "old hat"! SolarImpulse flew 40,000 kms around the world in five days and nights, totally solar powered.

Just as the World Solar Challenge gave impetus to Australian solar research, so will Dick's propose electric air race foster further solar research, particularly into power output versus accumulator size and weight.

I wonder how one calculates range plus fixed and variable reserve on a sunny day?

Good luck with CASA allowing home built solar aircraft to fly .........

[Tankengine]

Actually the solarimpulse took months to fly around the world!
The five days and nights was for the longest leg, Nagoya to Hawaii.

[tail wheel]

Yes, my dumb, brain in neutral.

40,000 kms in five days would be a speed of 333 KPH!

[no_one]

So a R44 has been modified to run electrically.
See here:
HeliHub.com Electric R44 takes flight
and video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-05wY41ht1s

While the specs on range and endurance are not that impressive there are still a lot more improvements that they could adopt in future refinements. For instance how much weight is needed in a gearbox to deal with the power pulses from an internal combustion engine? An electric motor has a smoother delivery of the torque to the drivetrain allowing lighter components.

[Flying Binghi]

Via no-one: ...While the specs on range and endurance are not that impressive there are still a lot more improvements that they could adopt in future refinements. For instance how much weight is needed in a gearbox to deal with the power pulses from an internal combustion engine? An electric motor has a smoother delivery of the torque to the drivetrain allowing lighter components.

You've gotta wonder what they were trying to prove with an electric Robinson. Every kid and his dog knows that electric helicopters work because most of them have one.

For full size probably counter rotating will be the go with the duel electric power plants set up as per the little racer referenced earlier in this thread. Gets rid of the power robbing tail rotor and gear boxes. Likely still need a sprague though.





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[Sunfish]

What a wonderful idea! An electric aircraft race!

The obvious way to get it to happen is to suggest it to the NZ Government.

Now if it was for coal fired steam aircraft as Stanwell suggested the Australian Government would back it in a flash.

The only trouble then would be that CASA would demand certified coal, water and coal shovels.

[Flying Binghi]

via News release:
...The environmental attraction of electric aircraft is obvious — no carbon emissions in flight...

Yep, the old global warming scam is still alive..

Although, there are now some elected representatives asking the questions that should have been asked by the inept liberal and labor politicians...

"...Senator Roberts asked CSIRO, the agency responsible for climate change to provide empirical evidence that human CO2 was causing warming or climate change. They submitted a report that failed to provide the evidence..."
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/11/...ing-deception/

http://joannenova.com.au/2016/11/aud...lcolm-roberts/

I'm surprised that the so-called sceptic Dick Smith is not also asking questions about the economy destroying global warming scam rather then promoting further taxpayer funded waste..




.

[Dick Smith]

The Australian Skeptics and its US equivalent are not sceptical about the claims made by most qualified scientists in relation to global warming.

However my proposal was not based on this issue . I reckon for small training aircraft that electrical operation may have some advantages . Also I was involved in the original Darwin to Adelaide Solar races. Nothing to do with global warming- just extending boundaries.

My Tesla with 0 to 100 in 3 seconds is the best fun car I have ever owned. Love to buy an equivalent aircraft.

[topdrop]

Not sure why I wasted 5 mins reading this crap

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/11/...ing-deception/

http://joannenova.com.au/2016/11/aud...lcolm-roberts/

I know - it's my own fault especially since the esteemed senator is one nation.

[Flying Binghi]

via topdrop:
Not sure why I wasted 5 mins reading this crap
Quote:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/11/...ing-deception/

http://joannenova.com.au/2016/11/aud...lcolm-roberts/
I know - it's my own fault especially since the esteemed senator is one nation.

Yeh, its hard to read things aint it. No 3 minute commercial break to rest the mind between infotainment segments..

topdrop, I'd be interested to know which part of your 5 minute read upset you ?






.

[Flying Binghi]

via Dick Smith: The Australian Skeptics and its US equivalent are not sceptical about the claims made by most qualified scientists in relation to global warming.

However my proposal was not based on this issue . I reckon for small training aircraft that electrical operation may have some advantages . Also I was involved in the original Darwin to Adelaide Solar races. Nothing to do with global warming- just extending boundaries.

My Tesla with 0 to 100 in 3 seconds is the best fun car I have ever owned. Love to buy an equivalent aircraft.

Well, the press report cited in this thread ties it to the global warming scam.

As to those 'most qualified scientists'. Perhaps you should ask them to assist the CSIRO and BOM as they caint seem to find any evidence of claims..

"An independent inquiry should be held into the CSIRO and *Bureau of Meteorology, which have been unable to provide empirical evidence linking human activity to climate change, One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts says.

Senator Roberts has rejected CSIRO assurances on climate science and called for a due diligence audit of the organisation’s research and methods"

Audit CSIRO: they lack evidence says Senator Malcolm Roberts « JoNova




.

[Ultralights]

So, if Global warming is a scam, why is it bad thing to help leave a better cleaner environment for our kids and future? but i guess that shrinking snow fields in Australia over the past 30 years is just a co-incidence..

even if its all a scam, driving an EV car has been a godsend for my own wellbeing, less stress, no vibration, less fatigue when driving,the occasional niggling cough has gone, i actually look forward to my commute driving an EV.. not to mention love the bills from the elctricity company, even after charging an electric car every day.

now i have a wrecked electric car in the garage (2nd car), 2 electric motors,60Kw each, and a 12Kwh battery.

now to get it ino a savannah or RV airframe..

and you might want to have a look at Clifornia and its economy, the strictest greenest state in the world. and a booming economy, from green tech...

[Band a Lot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm1nfKk4WHg

[Ultralights]

NASA X57, a Tecnam P2006, with 14 Electric motors. already becoming a reality with Tecnam delivering the fuselage to NASA already.



NASA Electric Research Plane Gets X Number, New Name | NASA

https://youtu.be/UQwhAX5woPo

[Band a Lot]

Seems the trend is for many motors for take off and climb, then shut many down.

45% max power seems best for electric to cruise - thinking tram type for take off (electric runways) cables unplug or conductor strips. Run 100% clean aircraft (flaps/gear) gain speed then climb at airport end strips detach.

[Fliegenmong]

Hmm....first thoughts were the drag from 14 failed props...but electric doesn't fail does it?, feather / fold them I guess...

[Ultralights]

but electric doesn't fail does it?, feather / fold them I guess...

I think electric motors are pretty sorted, how many run 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year in industry, reliability that can only be dreamed of with an internal combustion engine..

your fridge motor for example.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Um, your fridge motor does not run 24/7. It cycles on and off. In a good fridge, it's probably off more than it's on. Electric motors are still mechanical devices. They can and do fail.