Electric Aircraft Prototype

I don't know it seems like I have enough problems when I'm on the ground with my electric vehicles Now air!?!?!

Check it out here: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/prototyp...orts-aircraft-cleared-for-take+off-282815.php

I saw this a while back- it's a commercially available electric self-launching sailplane:
http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/silent_b.htm

I thought it was absolutely unbelievable that it was actually possible to buy an off-the-shelf electric aircraft. But it's a sailplane (very light, very long wing) and only needs a few minutes of power for launch. This Sonex, if it really works, is a big step up. It's a "regular airplane" (albeit small), with 2 seats. I wouldn't have thought it possible that you could power something like this for 45 minutes with batteries.

Cool, a 1:1 scale model airplane!

Cool, a 1:1 scale model airplane!

Click to expand...

Hey, that's right! Add some servos, and you could do all your test flights from the ground, in complete safety...

Jay said:

Cool, a 1:1 scale model airplane!

Click to expand...

Hey, that's right! Add some servos, and you could do all your test flights from the ground, in complete safety...

Click to expand...

Add GPS homing and an automated cargo door and you could air-freight goods, dropping a parachute-protected box over the intended destination. Or some kind of evil, destructive payload.

None of it is at all surprising. With the incredible advances in electric R/C the last decade or so, specifically large scale, full size seems to be a logical progression.

Interesting, I was at EAA for a couple of days and did not see that.. Cool... However I did see....

.....See new topic. ...

Here's another electric flyer (a trike ultralight). Seems like I recall that someone in the UK flew something like this a couple of years ago.

http://www.electraflyer.com/