To buy, or not to buy: that is the question

[Graviman]

Originally Posted by soup is good food

They may find a niche where reliability and response time is important and a long range and payload isn't required, such as aerial photography and observation etc.

Range would pretty much be limited to around the trailer used to take heli to location! Maybe since it would use a diesel tow engine you could think of it as a land/air diesel/electric hybrid!

Helis are just so power hungry that any battery range is impossible. I'm quietly dissappointed Dave just can't stick to the Independant root&tip control blade, since this has real technical merit (as long as retreating reverse flow is accepted for counterrotator helis). Improving heli efficiency in all flight regimes is the future...

Mart

[Dave_Jackson]

Just to keep the spark alive;

2.5 horsepower per pound

http://www.meinpapi.de/dieter/JAMO_0-33Wi10Abig.gif

[Graviman]

Dave,

Motor technology is not really the problem...

http://www.amsuper.com/products/moto...4074509641.cfm

Don't forget this is low RPM direct drive so will not offer best power/weight.

The big headache is how to generate the electrical power.

Mart

[slowrotor]

Dave,
Do you have a better link for the motor shown above? I could not get any info from the link.
slowrotor

[Dave_Jackson]

Mart,

The big headache is how to generate the electrical power.

The good news is that the helicopter will be fly-by-wire.
The bad news is that the wire will be from the helicopter to the ground.


Slowrotor,

Information on this motor [Plettenberg ~ Inrunner ~ HP 370/40 Heli] is located here. http://www.plettenberg-motoren.com/U..._40h/Motor.htm

An electric motor for a manned helicopter will have to be a little closer to the ones that Mart mentioned. However, four or five Plettenberg ~ Predators, at 11KW each might do.
http://www.plettenberg-motoren.com/U...ator/Motor.htm


Dave

[Rich Lee]

A better investment might be in batteries and fuel cells. The electric helicopter can be considered in the same light as razor. Give away the razor but charge handsomely for the blades.