The Two-Day Electric Airplane

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation 2 Comments

Imagine being confronted with a challenge to create an electric airplane in 48 hours, being filmed for much of those two days regardless of the frustrations or successes that come, and knowing that the entire adventure will be shown on the National Geographic Channel.   Robert Baslee’s Dream Fantasy ultralight, converted to electric power for a National Geographic TV series Robert Baslee, who runs Airdrome Aeroplanes in Holden, Missouri,  has the kinds of experience that makes such a challenge plausible.  He built four Nieuport fighters for the movie Flyboys in 52 days with a small, dedicated crew, for instance. His wife and he supplied vintage-looking aircraft to the making of the film Amelia.  He markets a growing range of WWI airplanes in full-size, 75- and 80-percent scale.  A full-scale Bleriot XI replica from his firm crossed the English Channel on the 100th anniversary of Louis Bleriot’s flight. Dick Starks writes regularly for Kitplanes magazine, and regales readers in the February 2013 issue …