Airbus E-Fan
| E-Fan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Airbus E-Fan in flight at 2014 Berlin Air Show | |
| Role | Electric aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Group Innovations |
| First flight | 11 March 2014 |
| Introduction | 2017 |
| Status | Under development |
| Number built | 1 |
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The Airbus E-Fan is a prototype two-seater electric aircraft being developed by Airbus Group. It was flight demonstrated to the world press at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK in July 2014. The target market is pilot training.
Design and development
Airbus Group is developing an electric aircraft with Aero Composite Saintonge. The aircraft uses on-board lithium batteries to power the two electric engines and can carry two passengers. A test flight was conducted in April 2014 at Mérignac Airport, France, landing in front of a large audience, the French Minister of Industry Arnaud Montebourg being one of them. At the 2014 Farnborough Airshow, Airbus announced that the E-Fan 2.0 will go into production by 2017 with a side-by-side seating layout.[1] Airbus has stated that there are plans for development of a commercial regional aircraft in the near future.[2][3]
The E-Fan is an all-electric two-seat twin-engined low-wing monoplane of composite structure. It has a T-tail and a retractable tandem landing gear with outrigger wheels. The two engines are mounted on either side of the rear fuselage.
Two production variants are planned, a two-seater E-Fan 2.0 for use as a trainer, and the E-Fan 4.0 four-seater. To increase flight duration the E-Fan 4.0 will have a hybrid-electric system that will have a small engine to charge the battery, which will increase duration from nearly an hour to 3.5 hours.[4]
The E-fan is of all-composite construction and is propelled by two ducted, variable-pitch fans spun by two electric motors totaling 60 kW of power. Ducting increases thrust while reducing noise, and having the fans mounted centrally provides better control. The motors moving the fans are powered by a series of 250-volt lithium-ion polymer batteries made by South Korean company Kokam. The batteries are mounted in the inboard section of the wings. They have enough power for one hour and take one hour to recharge. An onboard backup battery is available to make an emergency landing if power runs out while airborne. The E-fan's undercarriage consists of two retractable fore and aft wheels, with another two under the wings. Unusually for an aircraft, the wheels are powered by a 6 kW electric motor, which allows the plane to be taxied without the main engines and are able to accelerate it to 60 km/h (37 mph; 32 kn) for takeoffs. Having the takeoff run performed by the undercarriage relieves some of the burden on the flight motors.[5]
In December 2014 Airbus announced that DAHER-SOCATA will complete the design work on the aircraft and certify it. VoltAir, an Airbus subsidiary, developed the initial prototype and will work with Daher-Socata during the testing phase as the project manager.[6]
On 30 April 2015 the company announced that the design will be produced in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France at a new facility to be constructed in 2016, that will be near the DAHER-SOCATA plant. First deliveries are expected at the end of 2017 or early 2018.[7]
Variants
- E-Fan
- Two-seat concept aircraft.[4]
- E-Fan 2.0
- Proposed all-electric two-seat production variant.[4]
- E-Fan 4.0
- Proposed hybrid-electric four-seat variant.[4]
- E-Thrust
- Proposed 90-seat regional jet based on the principles of the E-Fan.[4]
Specifications
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2014/15[8]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 6.67 m (21 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 550 kg (1,213 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Electric motor , 30 kW (40 hp) each via eight-blade ducted fans,each producing thrust of 0.75 kN (266 lb st)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph; 119 kn) all performance figures estimated
- Cruising speed: 160 km/h (99 mph; 86 kn)
- Endurance: 60 min
References
- ↑ "Airbus commits to E-Fan Production". Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ↑ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (2013-09-17). "Airbus unveils plans for battery-powered planes within the next 20 years". The daily Mail (online ed.). UK. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
- ↑ Bertorelli, Paul (2014-04-24). "Airbus Announces Electric Aircraft". Av Web. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Reed Business Information Limited. "Airbus light aircraft initiative blazes trail to electric future".
- ↑ "E-Fan electric aircraft makes first public flight", Giz mag, 30 April 2014.
- ↑ Kauh, Elaine (11 December 2014). "Daher-Socata To Develop Airbus E-Fan". AVweb. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
- ↑ "Airbus E-Fan To Be Built In Pau, France". AVweb. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ↑ Jackson, Paul A. (2014). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2014-15. IHS Global. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-7106-3094-0.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airbus E-Fan. |
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