AEAC Debuts Sun Flyer at AirVenture 2014

Dean Sigler Diesel Powerplants, Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Calin Cologan and George Bye staged a joint press event on the Sunday evening before AirVenture started.  Held in the Redbird Tent on Wittman Field, it drew hundreds who saw the Redbird flight simulators and a Diesel-powered Cessna, but were stopped short by the yellow and blue Sun Flyer, a single-seat proof-of-concept version of what will soon be a two-seat battery/solar training aircraft. Forming a new firm based on the strengths of PC-Aero in Germany, and Bye Aerospace and Redbird Flight Simulators in America, they promise an electric training aircraft for the near future.  Unlike the tandem two-seaters PC-Aero is developing in Germany, American Electric Aircraft Corporation will produce a side-by-side craft, often preferred for communication between instructor and student. In this Da Vinci Institute presentation, George Bye discusses the keys to performance for his aircraft, which include clean aerodynamics, high efficiency, a light carbon structure, and solar energy.  Nest will come a “big performance step – endurance” – and possible perpetual flight …

Two Ultralights Promoting Electric Power

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Several electric aircraft graced the flight lines and display tents at Oshkosh this year, while several that had flown in previous years stayed home.  It shows a growing market segment – one apt to continue growing as batteries and components improve.  The ultralight area showed the greatest number of new developments, with two aircraft showing how one might achieve battery-powered flight on a budget. Chip Erwin and the Aviad MG-12 Zigolo Several have noted the Aviad MG-12 “ Zigolo” (named after a small bird – not as some surmise, a “gigolo”) from Italy has the look of a Mike Sandlin Basic Ultralight Glider, although it also has elements of other early Part 103 machines and carries a complete aircraft kit price of $14,500.  “Complete” includes a two-stroke, single cylinder Vittorazi Moster 185-cc engine.  $1,500 adds a more advanced BRS ballistic recovery parachute, and another $1,500 nets a more complete, more quickly finished kit.  Aviad claims the basic kit takes only …

PADA Lectures Highlight Innovation

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

The 2014 Personal Aircraft Design Academy (PADA) dinner and awards ceremony, the latter held in the Vette Theater at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Museum, highlighted design innovation and the possible commercial exploitation of new technology.  Dr. Brien Seeley, Founder and President of the CAFE Foundation, hosted the evening and introduced your CAFE blog editor, who gave an overview of innovations in aircraft, avionics and powerplants he’d encountered on his daily hikes around Wittman Field. Dr. Seeley had the honor of presenting this year’s PADA trophy to John O’Leary, Vice President and General Manager of Airbus Americas Engineering (AAE), for the parent company’s development of the E-Fan, a twin-motored personal airplane that has been a highlight of the Paris and Farnborough air shows.  With the flying displays behind it, the proof-of-concept machine will be the basis for two-seat (E-Fan 2.0) and four-seat (4.0) production variants that will bring smooth electric power to private flight.  The two-seater, which can double as a …

The Personal Aircraft Design Academy – IMPORTANT UPDATE!

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation Leave a Comment

Brien A.Seeley M.D., PADA Program Chair and President of the CAFE Foundation, sends the following invitation. The highlight of Oshkosh AirVenture for me each year is the Personal Aircraft Design Academy (PADA), whose casual, delicious, catered buffet ‘networking’ dinner is followed by its colloquium for leading aircraft designers, enthusiasts and aero engineers.  Several of the renowned previous PADA Trophy recipients are expected to dine and attend PADA 2014, where we will reveal and honor the 12th annual recipient of the perpetual PADA Trophy.  For 2014, the presentation program will feature two exciting new aircraft: Richard Hogan from Commutercraft  will present ‘The Innovator—a New 3–‐surface Aircraft’ and Oliver Garrow will present the technical details of a new tilt‐wing VTOL aircraft—the Elytron.” The 2014 PADA dinner will be at 6:15 PM on Friday August 1, at the large, white Nature Tent #3, which is in the wooded area about ¼ mile East of the EAA Museum. The PADA colloquium presentations, which are open …