The German Elektra Ond electric aircraft has flown -
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German 'Elektra One' Aircraft Makes First Flights
March 31, 2011 — The Elektra One, a single-seat, electric-powered aircraft from German company PC-Aero, made its first flight on March 19 at the Airport Augsburg, Germany, then flew an extended, 30-minute flight around the patch four days later, March 23. PC-Aero claims the aircraft will provide more than three hours flight endurance with a range of more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles).
Jon Karkow, well-known test pilot, was at the controls for the first flight and said the aircraft was stable and had good control and landing characteristics. Karkow flew to an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 feet) at a climb rate of 400 fpm. Norbert Lorenzen was pilot of the March 23 flight.
Calin Gologan, PC-Aero CEO and developer of the Elektra, commented, “Our expectations have been exceeded. We are overjoyed.â€
The electric drive system, including a 13.5-kilowatt (continuous) brushless electric motor (16-kilowatt maximum power), controller, battery management, and three-blade propeller comes from Geiger Engineering of Germany. The airframe is made from lightweight composites and weighs in at 100 kilograms empty, including the motor. The landing gear is a single, center wheel. The aircraft will soon get a new variable pitch propeller and a retractable gear.
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March 31, 2011 — The Elektra One, a single-seat, electric-powered aircraft from German company PC-Aero, made its first flight on March 19 at the Airport Augsburg, Germany, then flew an extended, 30-minute flight around the patch four days later, March 23. PC-Aero claims the aircraft will provide more than three hours flight endurance with a range of more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles).
Jon Karkow, well-known test pilot, was at the controls for the first flight and said the aircraft was stable and had good control and landing characteristics. Karkow flew to an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 feet) at a climb rate of 400 fpm. Norbert Lorenzen was pilot of the March 23 flight.
Calin Gologan, PC-Aero CEO and developer of the Elektra, commented, “Our expectations have been exceeded. We are overjoyed.â€
The electric drive system, including a 13.5-kilowatt (continuous) brushless electric motor (16-kilowatt maximum power), controller, battery management, and three-blade propeller comes from Geiger Engineering of Germany. The airframe is made from lightweight composites and weighs in at 100 kilograms empty, including the motor. The landing gear is a single, center wheel. The aircraft will soon get a new variable pitch propeller and a retractable gear.
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