An Electric Autogyro

Dean Sigler Electric Powerplants, Sustainable Aviation 4 Comments

Combine a FIAT 500e with an autogyro and you get the Cavalon, a two-seat, side-by-side, relatively quiet electric flying machine.   Both use the same Bosch motor and inverter.  Auto Gyro The Aircraft Company, Cavalon’s maker, says the 80 kilowatt motor drives a three-blade propeller at up to 2,300 rpm and provides performance similar to that for the Rotax-powered version of the craft. A Bosch 180/120 SMG (separate motor generator) with a planetary gear propeller speed reduction powers the aircraft.   Capable of regenerative braking on the little FIAT as controlled by an INVCON 2.3 inverter, it will be interesting to see if such recharging can be expected when the Cavalon glides.  The motor/controller combination powers the FIAT 500e, the electric Smart Car, and is used to help drive the rear wheels on the Peugeot 3008 Diesel HYbrid4. Compact like the cars and autogyro it drives, the motor gets its designation from its 180 millimeter diameter, a little over seven inches, and …