electric motors
 

Recently I saw a article about electric motors in light aircraft in a magazine ,I thought I would start a thread about this hoping others may add information.As far as it goes it would revolutionize the GA industry as far as costs go.:DImagine flying without those head crushing headphones just wind noise and the odd banter with the others vis the wireless:p

The motor is easy. A brushless 3-phase motor, say 20cm diameter and 50cm long, weighing about 50kg, would generate say 300HP, at about 20,000rpm.

Look at the motors used on electric model planes, right now. They cost about £100 (for a good one) and are at least as powerful as nitro engines.

The power source is the slight problem!

Running at 20.000 rpm you might need to add some additional weight for a gearbox. But all in all, if the power problem could be sorted, yeah, I'll have an electric motor up front without hesitation. How many moving (reciprocating & rotating) parts in a gasoline or diesel-type engine again?

Oh, and think about the view. No ugly cowling in sight anymore from the cockpit. These motors are generally very compact and only need minimal cooling and lubrication. Magneto check, carb heat, priming? Forget it. Check the voltage, check the circuit breakers and off you go.

And even with a fixed pitch prop you'd be able to park backwards, simply by rotating the prop the other way.

Now if only wireless power would be available up to FL100... :O

I presume, that in order to avoid ballast, the noses will get even longer. Unless the ballast and bulk is effectively provided by the still mythical power source.

Electric production aircraft
 

Self-launch motorglider with electric engine:
http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm...ropulsion.html

And the future:

Electrically driven aircraft, powered by fuel cells, fueled by hydrogen. Shame there is buggar all hydrogen to stick in it. Unless there's a monster hydrogen mine in Iran???

http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/new...l-aircraft.htm

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news..._195334-1.html

My guess is that this will be available around 2015...
Could maybe be little sooner, since i heard that the new Porsche Panamera is also comming out with hybrid power.. who could imagine that ?? This car will with us next year.. 2008...

About the price, don't bet your hopes on it, goverments will tax your flying on an hourly rate, don't expect to have power for free, the whole world economic system will fall down, imagine that those 'greenpeace guys' and other green extremists will need to go to work hahaha

The power source... how about a wind turbine? ;)

>> The power source... how about a wind turbine? ;) <<

Encourage everyone to eat more Curry. :D

I have seen complete working drawings for an electric Cessna 172. The motor used was the generator end of the APU from a Boeing 777. (obviously working in reverse). On paper the performance and range was similar to the real deal.