Airbus in collaboration with a Chinese aviation manufacturer envisions that the time has come for electric airplanes hitting the mainstream aviation projects including training flights. It’s been quite some time now since electric aviation have been working towards creating electric trainers because of its affordability, cleanliness and vibration-free quality relatively.
Sun Flyer
Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation, which by launched last year by Bye Aerospace, Inc., is nearly ready with its 2-seat solar-electric light sport aircraft ‘Sun Flyer’. It is the solar cells embedded on the wings that forms the most interesting part of the entire aircraft, parking the plane in sun for a few days will fully charge the battery, for free.
Talking about the affordability, Sun Flyer would cost no more than $5/hr in contrast with four-seat Cessna 172 that takes about $73/hr. Selling price for the new Sun Flyer would be around $180,000 to $200,000 while the new 172 sells for about $370,000. This means, Bye is looking forward to make flying experience an altogether affordable business however, the firm is not the only one in the flying race.
E-Fan
Airbus Group is too aiming towards delivering E-Fan 2.0 battery-powered airplane for flight schools within the next 2 years. French manufacturer Daher-Socata has taken the responsibility of completing the design work for the two-seater E-Fan.
The aircraft is especially targeted for flight learning schools where single training schedule occurs for one hour but with the E-Fan, time can be easily stretched for double duration since it would account for staying aloft for two continuous hours, which is quite a time for training market. Unlike the other planes, swapping out depleting batteries for new ones won’t take much time either, which means, hassle free resuming time for the subsequent flying lesson.
Rui Xiang RX1E
Rui Xiang RX1E two-seat electric-powered airplane by China is also expected to share the flying space. On a full charge, the aircraft flies for nearly 90 minutes. With an aim of producing 100 planes per year, the construction has already begun in Shenyang. Its cruising speed is expected to be 86 knots and the price would be around $163,000.
Electric planes are the future
Future of aviation looks promising with electric planes where eventually gasoline engines would become obsolete especially in learning arenas where flights are brief and only two seats are the requirement. Moreover, maintenance cost of an electric plane is not that expensive plus it’s much smoother and quieter relatively.
Source: [Byeaerospace] [Flyingmag] [Cnet] [Avweb]
