FES Installs Sustainer on German Sailplane

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation 1 Comment

Luka Žnidaršič  of FES (Front Electric Sustainer) directed your editor to the following.  His company displayed at Aero 2014 in Friedrichshafen, Germany during that stellar event, showing off the latest sailplane to use their integrated power system.

“We are glad to inform you that during Aero 2014 we presented our new Ventus 2cxa FES. We performed installation in cooperation with Schempp-Hirth manufacturer. This is first FES system installed on German type of sailplane.   Luka adds, “We made this development in cooperation with Schempp-Hirth who also recognized potential of the FES system.  The new Ventus 2cxa FES is available for about 100.000€+VAT taxes and options.”

“Pictures show more than words!”

Distinctive FES propeller graces nose of Ventus.  Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Distinctive FES propeller graces nose of Ventus. Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Both Luka and his father Matija started as model aircraft builders and transferred that love of aircraft to real sailplanes; Luka has over 2,200 hours in more than 30 sailplane types, and Matija has about 3,000 gliding hours.  They used their considerable talents and degrees to help design their own motors, controllers, battery packs, connections and instrumentation.

Folded propeller adds very little drag, according to Idaflieg report.  Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Folded propeller adds very little drag, according to tests on other FES installations. Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Luka has secondary school training in electrical engineering and a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Ljubljana. According to the FES web site, “He is also a specialist in CAD/CAM technologies and experienced in sailplane tuning and repairs.”  He flies a competition sailplane with the mark LZ on the tail.

Luka Žnidaršič (center), his wife Maja, designer at LZ design and Matjaž Brus, chief of production at LZ design.

Luka Žnidaršič (center), his wife Maja, designer at LZ design and Matjaž Brus, chief of production at LZ design.    Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Matija “completed secondary school [in] electrical engineering and later graduated from mechanical engineering at the University of Ljubljana. He is an experienced plastic injection mold maker. Electric motors are his passion, so the FES brushless motor is mainly his development. He flies his LAK17A FES with the competition mark ZM.”

Ventus shows tidy installation of purpose-designed battery packs.   Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Ventus shows tidy installation of purpose-designed battery packs. Photo courtesy of LZ design d.o.o.

Their motors and distinctive folding propellers are flying on LAK, Silent, and Schempp-Hirth sailplanes now.

Comments 1

  1. I love this FES concept – I wonder how good the uptake is (i.e., are they selling?)

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