Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft
| Electric Sport Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Sonex Aircraft |
| Designer | Sonex Aircraft Hornet's Nest |
| First flight | 3 December 2010 (Waiex Test Bed)[1] |
| Status | In development/early flight testing |
| Unit cost |
Less than US$32,000[2] |
| Developed from | Sonex Aircraft Xenos[2] |
The Sonex Electric Sport Aircraft (ESA) is a two-place (one place with additional batteries) aircraft design currently under development by Sonex Aircraft, using the 80 hp (60 kW) Sonex e-Flight electric system for thrust.[2] Sonex is designing this aircraft as a part of an attempt to develop alternate fuels, to ensure feasibility of inexpensive sport aviation in the future.[3][4]
Design and development
The ESA is designed to use the Sonex e-Flight electric system, which is concurrently under development. The airframe is developed from the Xenos, and is not intended to compete with the other aircraft in the Sonex line.[2] The initial flights, however, have used a Waiex airframe, and are centered around testing the electric power system.[1] The aircraft will be aluminum riveted, and features will include a shortened wingspan and tail tips (in relation to the Xenos), aerobatic wing tips, 8' flaps instead of spoilers, and for the center of gravity, an auxiliary battery and controller in the tail cone.[2]
The electrical system will be 270 volts and 200 amps, and will be adjustable to different power outputs.[5] As of 2007, the brushless DC-Cobalt motor was designed be very lightweight, at only 50 lb (23 kg), to operate at 90% efficiency, and to use Lithium-ion and Lithium-polymer batteries.[4][6][7]
For safety, the batteries are contained in "safety boxes", which are designed, in the event of a problem, to direct fire or explosion through designated holes, and to help cool the cells normally. In the final version, the batteries will be able to be charged in the aircraft, while retaining the ability to be easily removed and swapped with other batteries.[7] The design won the Lindberg Electric Aircraft Prize for the "Best Electric Aircraft Sub-System or Component Technology" at Airventure 2010, and at that time the first completion of a production aircraft was anticipated for the end of 2011.[8]
Specifications
Data from manufacturer’s website[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
- Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
- Empty weight: 920 lb (417 kg) - unknown whether empty weight includes the batteries.
- Gross weight: 1,320 lb (599 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 17kW-hr battery pack + optional 14kW-hr auxiliary battery (in lieu of passenger)
- Powerplant: 1 × e-flight Electric System Electric, 80 hp (60 kW)
Performance
- Stall speed: 43 mph (69 km/h; 37 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 170 mph (274 km/h; 148 kn)
- Range: 87 mi (76 nmi; 140 km) - range is 164 miles (143 nmi; 244 km) with auxiliary battery option
- Endurance: 50 min (96 min with auxiliary battery option)
- g limits: +4.4/-2.2
- Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag: 17:1
References
- 1 2 "E-Flight Electric Waiex Achieves First Flight". Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sonex Aircraft Hornet's Nest Research and Development". Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ↑ "Sonex Unveils Electric Airplane". Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- 1 2 "AIRVENTURE: Sonex plans battery-powered engine". Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- ↑ "Sonex Explores Alternative Engines". Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- ↑ "Sonex Moves Closer to Electric Flight". Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- 1 2 "Sonex Aircraft and AeroConversions Show Electric Propulsion System for Sport Aircraft". Retrieved 2011-10-22.
- ↑ "First Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes recognizes Yuneec, Sonex and Antares with video". Retrieved 2011-10-22.