Brand new German helicopter!

[ABikerSailor]

A group of German tinkerers have successfully completed what it claims is the world's first manned flight with an electric-powered "multi-copter" — a contraption that resembles a helicopter but with 16 rotors.

The one-minute-and-30-second flight was proof of concept for the machine that could one day find use for tasks such as inspecting wind turbines and pipelines or taking aerial photographs — in addition to giving aviation geeks a good time.


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Though most similar to a helicopter, the team says the E-volo is superior due to the "simplicity of its engineered construction without complicated mechanics, and its redundant engines."

Should something go wrong, it can land even if four of its 16 rotors fail, for example. And since there is no propeller above the pilot, a safety parachute could also be deployed.

Future of Technology - Manned electric 'multi-copter' takes flight

Best part? It's powered by electricity and is currently able to do 20 min flights. It kinda looks like one of those Dragonfly toy helicopters on steriods.

 

[LAfrique]

A group of German tinkerers have successfully completed what it claims is the world's first manned flight with an electric-powered "multi-copter" — a contraption that resembles a helicopter but with 16 rotors.

The one-minute-and-30-second flight was proof of concept for the machine that could one day find use for tasks such as inspecting wind turbines and pipelines or taking aerial photographs — in addition to giving aviation geeks a good time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Though most similar to a helicopter, the team says the E-volo is superior due to the "simplicity of its engineered construction without complicated mechanics, and its redundant engines."

Should something go wrong, it can land even if four of its 16 rotors fail, for example. And since there is no propeller above the pilot, a safety parachute could also be deployed.

Future of Technology - Manned electric 'multi-copter' takes flight

Best part? It's powered by electricity and is currently able to do 20 min flights. It kinda looks like one of those Dragonfly toy helicopters on steriods.

That's neat! Wish there would be more investment on gasless and non-electric vehicles.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Interestingly enough, there's also an airplane that is electric powered, has a range of around 250-300 miles, and comes with it's own solar powered hangar for charging.

Cost of total system: 145,000. Cost of operation? About 50 bucks/hour.

 

[LAfrique]

Interestingly enough, there's also an airplane that is electric powered, has a range of around 250-300 miles, and comes with it's own solar powered hangar for charging.

Cost of total system: 145,000. Cost of operation? About 50 bucks/hour.

Really? How is this electric-powered plane equipped to handle interferences such as lightening, HAARP, microwave, etc.?

 

[ABikerSailor]

Interestingly enough, there's also an airplane that is electric powered, has a range of around 250-300 miles, and comes with it's own solar powered hangar for charging.

Cost of total system: 145,000. Cost of operation? About 50 bucks/hour.

Really? How is this electric-powered plane equipped to handle interferences such as lightening, HAARP, microwave, etc.?

Probably shielded somehow, dunno.

But, here's the article on it............

A single-passenger electric airplane that you can (almost) buy is waiting for its day in the sun at an air show in Wisconsin where it hopes to showcase the future of zero-emissions aviation.

Torrential rains at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh earlier this week has created a backlog of flights, delaying a demonstration of the Elektra One, officials said.

The nearly silent propeller-driven plane with a sleek, glider-like design is powered by an onboard battery that has sufficient juice for three hours of flight and a range of about 250 miles. The 220-pound, 26-kilowatt battery is fueled in a solar-charging hangar.

"Our concept is not to bring on the market an aircraft only, it is to bring a system and this system is the aircraft, plus the hangar, plus the energy," Calin Gologan, the chief executive officer of PC Aero, the German-based developer of the electric plane, told me Wednesday.

An electric plane you can (almost) buy - Technology & science - Future of Technology - msnbc.com

 

[LAfrique]

Interestingly enough, there's also an airplane that is electric powered, has a range of around 250-300 miles, and comes with it's own solar powered hangar for charging.

Cost of total system: 145,000. Cost of operation? About 50 bucks/hour.

Really? How is this electric-powered plane equipped to handle interferences such as lightening, HAARP, microwave, etc.?

Probably shielded somehow, dunno.

But, here's the article on it............

A single-passenger electric airplane that you can (almost) buy is waiting for its day in the sun at an air show in Wisconsin where it hopes to showcase the future of zero-emissions aviation.

Torrential rains at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh earlier this week has created a backlog of flights, delaying a demonstration of the Elektra One, officials said.

The nearly silent propeller-driven plane with a sleek, glider-like design is powered by an onboard battery that has sufficient juice for three hours of flight and a range of about 250 miles. The 220-pound, 26-kilowatt battery is fueled in a solar-charging hangar.

"Our concept is not to bring on the market an aircraft only, it is to bring a system and this system is the aircraft, plus the hangar, plus the energy," Calin Gologan, the chief executive officer of PC Aero, the German-based developer of the electric plane, told me Wednesday.

An electric plane you can (almost) buy - Technology & science - Future of Technology - msnbc.com

And what happens if weather prevents the 3-hours charged battery-powered plane from landing within 3-hour lifespan and plane has to circulate, or go looking for emergency landing elsewhere? How would electric-powered plane get extra juice?

 

[ABikerSailor]

Same thing that happens if you run out of fuel in a conventional airplane, you've gotta land somewhere.

Most small planes are only rated for 2 1/2 - 4 hours of flight time.

 

[Tank]

Awesome

 

[LAfrique]

Same thing that happens if you run out of fuel in a conventional airplane, you've gotta land somewhere.

Most small planes are only rated for 2 1/2 - 4 hours of flight time.

You are aware that when battery-powered things run out of juice they simply drop dead. Right? Anyway, it is good attempt, and all good attempts can always be improved.

 

[ABikerSailor]

Same thing that happens if you run out of fuel in a conventional airplane, you've gotta land somewhere.

Most small planes are only rated for 2 1/2 - 4 hours of flight time.

You are aware that when battery-powered things run out of juice they simply drop dead. Right? Anyway, it is good attempt, and all good attempts can always be improved.

Hey stupid............you DO realize that by virtue of their shape, airplanes have a glide slope (even with a dead engine), right?

BTW chumpsteak.............what have YOU invented lately?