No, that’s not the name of a rock band. But there is a real twin fuselage motor glider featuring a 145 kW electric motor, lithium-ion batteries, and retractable landing gear.
From NASA:
Pipistrel-USA, Taurus G4 aircraft is seen as it participates in the miles per gallon flight. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn directs the eGenius aircraft to the start of the speed competition during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
› View all large images in Flickr
› Green Flight Challenge News NASA has awarded the largest prize in aviation history, created to inspire the development of more fuel-efficient aircraft and spark the start of a new electric airplane industry. The technologies demonstrated by the CAFE Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, competitors may end up in general aviation aircraft, spawning new jobs and new industries for the 21st century.
The first place prize of $1.35 million was awarded to team Pipistrel-USA.com of State College, Pa. The second place prize of $120,000 went to team eGenius, of Ramona, Calif.
Fourteen teams originally registered for the competition. Three teams successfully met all requirements and competed in the skies over the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. The competition was managed by the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation under an agreement with NASA.
“NASA congratulates Pipistrel-USA.com for proving that ultra-efficient aviation is within our grasp,” said Joe Parrish, NASA’s acting chief technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Today we’ve shown that electric aircraft have moved beyond science fiction and are now in the realm of practice.”
The winning aircraft had to fly 200 miles in less than two hours and use less than one gallon of fuel per occupant, or the equivalent in electricity. The first and second place teams, which were both electric-powered, achieved twice the fuel efficiency requirement of the competition, meaning they flew 200 miles using just over a half-gallon of fuel equivalent per passenger.
“Two years ago the thought of flying 200 miles at 100 mph in an electric aircraft was pure science fiction,” said Jack W. Langelaan, team leader of Team Pipistrel-USA.com. “Now, we are all looking forward to the future of electric aviation.”
This week’s competition marks the culmination of more than two years of aircraft design, development and testing for the teams. It represents the dawn of a new era in efficient flight and is the first time that full-scale electric aircraft have performed in competition. Collectively, the competing teams invested more than $4 million in pursuit of the challenge prize purse.
“I’m proud that Pipistrel won, they’ve been a leader in getting these things into production, and the team really deserves it, and worked hard to win this prize,” said Eric Raymond, team leader of eGenius.
NASA uses prize competitions to increase the number and diversity of the individuals, organizations and teams that are addressing a particular problem or challenge. Prize competitions stimulate private sector investment that is many times greater than the cash value of the prize and further NASA’s mission by attracting interest and attention to a defined technical objective. This prize competition is part of the NASA Centennial Challenges program, part of the Space Technology Program, managed by the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist.
For more information about the CAFE Foundation’s Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, visit:
For high resolution photos of the challenge, visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto
For more information about NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist and the Centennial Challenges program, visit:
Pipistrel-USA, Taurus G4 aircraft is seen as it participates in the miles per gallon flight. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
CAFE Foundation Hanger Boss Mike Fenn directs the eGenius aircraft to the start of the speed competition during the 2011 Green Flight Challenge. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
› View all large images in Flickr
› Green Flight Challenge News NASA has awarded the largest prize in aviation history, created to inspire the development of more fuel-efficient aircraft and spark the start of a new electric airplane industry. The technologies demonstrated by the CAFE Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, competitors may end up in general aviation aircraft, spawning new jobs and new industries for the 21st century.
The first place prize of $1.35 million was awarded to team Pipistrel-USA.com of State College, Pa. The second place prize of $120,000 went to team eGenius, of Ramona, Calif.
Fourteen teams originally registered for the competition. Three teams successfully met all requirements and competed in the skies over the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, Calif. The competition was managed by the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation under an agreement with NASA.
“NASA congratulates Pipistrel-USA.com for proving that ultra-efficient aviation is within our grasp,” said Joe Parrish, NASA’s acting chief technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Today we’ve shown that electric aircraft have moved beyond science fiction and are now in the realm of practice.”
The winning aircraft had to fly 200 miles in less than two hours and use less than one gallon of fuel per occupant, or the equivalent in electricity. The first and second place teams, which were both electric-powered, achieved twice the fuel efficiency requirement of the competition, meaning they flew 200 miles using just over a half-gallon of fuel equivalent per passenger.
“Two years ago the thought of flying 200 miles at 100 mph in an electric aircraft was pure science fiction,” said Jack W. Langelaan, team leader of Team Pipistrel-USA.com. “Now, we are all looking forward to the future of electric aviation.”
This week’s competition marks the culmination of more than two years of aircraft design, development and testing for the teams. It represents the dawn of a new era in efficient flight and is the first time that full-scale electric aircraft have performed in competition. Collectively, the competing teams invested more than $4 million in pursuit of the challenge prize purse.
“I’m proud that Pipistrel won, they’ve been a leader in getting these things into production, and the team really deserves it, and worked hard to win this prize,” said Eric Raymond, team leader of eGenius.
NASA uses prize competitions to increase the number and diversity of the individuals, organizations and teams that are addressing a particular problem or challenge. Prize competitions stimulate private sector investment that is many times greater than the cash value of the prize and further NASA’s mission by attracting interest and attention to a defined technical objective. This prize competition is part of the NASA Centennial Challenges program, part of the Space Technology Program, managed by the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist.
For more information about the CAFE Foundation’s Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google, visit:
For high resolution photos of the challenge, visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto
For more information about NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist and the Centennial Challenges program, visit:
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Oops, double post. Half a gallon per passenger? Is there someone who can quickly calculate if that is possible? Factoring in drag, lift, inertia…that just seems intuitively unachievable…especially at 100 mph, where the drag would be considerable. If you ask me, there’s something very wrong here.
“NASA uses prize competitions to increase the number and diversity of the individuals”
Wonder what they mean by diversity.
“Today we’ve shown that electric aircraft have moved beyond science fiction and are now in the realm of practice.”
no they are not. electric airplanes are extremely expensive and unpractical, more than electric cars, and remain expensive toys for rich boys who want to play scientist or win some meaningless prize.
there is nothing expecial about these airplanes, they all use old, proven technology that exist since decades, and just is too expensive and too unpractical, with no real world application.
Exciting news on the technology. Discouraging news on the political correctness of NASA’s prize criteria (“diversity”). If this remains feel-good rhetoric, it’s bad enough. If it gets baked into formal requirements for team membership, it’s fatal. But let’s hope that NASA will –in the best sense of the phrase– “keep [its] eyes on the prize.”
Begs a little investigation to see who is getting a pay-off.
Glider enthusiasts will probably know more about this but I’m sure that there have been electric ‘gliders’ for many years already.
Calculating: 1hp =745 watts, 145kw = 194 hp, 145kw X 2hr =290kwh 1gal gasoline=36.6kwh
My guess is someone left a decimal out of the engine power rating. two 195hp engines should drag most regular airplanes along at something like 200mph.
@Mike: These are basically motorized gliders, which means that once airborne they’re probably getting significant lift from thermals and such. Unpowered gliders can easily do 5 times that distance at those speeds without using any more energy than was required to get them in the air, so I have no doubt about the number achieved in this competition. Now, the real money question is what could these planes do without help from Ma Nature, and whether this contest really achieved anything.
Correction: Piper twin: 15.5gph, 2X190hp, 165knts = 189mph. I still think someone left a decimal out of the engine power.
OK now power an Airbus 380 the same way, with full 700 passenger compliment plus luggage, for a trip from London to JFK. When you achieve that we can say that the dream of ultra efficient air travel has arrived. Until then stop making statements that cannot be sustained.
This story could be under the Friday Funny page Anthony.
It would be nice to point out, that Pipistrel-USA.com is dauther firm of Pipistrel from Ajdovščina Slovenia http://www.pipistrel.si/ . And that the prize is personel succses of Ivo Boscarol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel
BTW, there in Ajdovščina lives/blows terible wind bora (burja) but wine and food is very good.
http://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burja
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_%28wind%29
Google Colomban Cri-cri, Wikipedia.: twin 11kw engines, 105mph, designed 1970’s. these frenchmen missed out on a $1.5 million award.
“Half a gallon per passenger? Is there someone who can quickly calculate if that is possible?”
The key is in “…or the equivalent in electricity”. If you calculate the total chemical energy in the fuel (plus the oxidant (oxygen)) and the convert it to the equivalent in electrical power you approximately treble the available energy. Electrical engines are almost 100% efficient.
Never mind that it took at least four times as much chemical energy to generate that electricity, transmit it and cram it into the battery.
You guys (or the NASA press guys) should consider an editor: Ryan space plane got $10 million X-Prize.
Sorry about the disjointed comments… one track mind.
Any electric device using sufficient power to win speed/economy prizes etc need powerful batteries and unless the Green image is to be promoted all these devices should not use fossil fuel generated electricity! Only wind and solar power should be allowed.
The idea that electric powered aircraft will spawn many jobs is pure smoke and mirrors. Any cold weather will limit their range, as in electric cars [another politico science green scam]
Interesting technically and for short journeys they would be fun but to be frank they are a curiosity and nothing much more. Until someone invents lightweight compact huge capacity batteries [that won’t catch fire/work in cold weather] it will cost a lot of taxpayers money in subsidies and like Solyndra has proved how unGreen most Warmist green projects are I wish the electric airplane industry good luck but they won’t get one penny from me by choice.
ew_3 says:
October 4, 2011 at 12:33 am
“NASA uses prize competitions to increase the number and diversity of the individuals”
Wonder what they mean by diversity.
======================================================
If NASA can tempt the space aliens to compete… ;o)
Perhaps you get one big honkin’ tow jet at a regional hub to pull up a train of 10-20 electric ‘gliders’ and have them all peel off and go to their respective destinations. Until dilithium crystals come on line, it may be our next move after jet fuel.
IIRC, an Airbus A380 uses about 2 litres/100km per passenger on long-haul flights.
I couldn’t find the GFC rules easily… is takeoff counted in the energy consumption? Maybe I misunderstaood what “powered glider” means, but don’t they usually get towed to altitude?
Mike Bromley the Canucklehead says:
October 4, 2011 at 12:32 am
Oops, double post. Half a gallon per passenger? Is there someone who can quickly calculate if that is possible? Factoring in drag, lift, inertia…that just seems intuitively unachievable…especially at 100 mph, where the drag would be considerable. If you ask me, there’s something very wrong here.
I wonder how much of a tail wind they had.
I gallon aviation fuel equivalent to about 36 kilowatthours of electricity.
It must be pretty close to being able to put solar panels on it and it could fly all day on solar.
“……to increase the number and diversity of the individuals”
How does an individual become diverse? Was nobody looking, and the individual’s probability wave became spread?
Without a major breakthrough in battery design, the payload weight of batteries will always make battery powered aircraft non commercially viable.
I designed an electric airplane once but could not find a long enough extension cord. ;<)
Energy density is the problem with storage batteries, or primary batteries, for that matter. When fuel cell technology matures, practical ranges and speeds might be schieved. But economic considerations determine what might be truly practical as the technology matures.
Regretfully this whole post and NASA’s slant on it is being made to sound as if the Taurus Electro G4 aircraft is American and that America is first with electrically powered aircraft.
The “Pipstrel” company is a Slovenian company and produces a range of high performance ultra light piston powered aircraft using glider construction technology to achieve very high strength loadings, light weight and exceptional performance. They also produce the dual seat electrically powered, self launching gliders such as the Taurus 2 seat glider of which the G4 uses the major components such as fuselage and wings. They also produce the single seat, ultra light class glider, the “Apis / Bee”. Both gliders have glide ratios above 40 to 1.
PIPISTREL d.o.o. Ajdovščina
GORIŠKA CESTA 50a
SI-5270 AJDOVŠČINA
SLOVENIA
Slovenia Pipstrel site ; http://www.pipistrel.si/
From the EAA site; http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-08-13_pipistrelFF.asp
Pipistrel, founded by CEO Ivo Boscarol, has been producing Light aircraft for 20 years in Slovenia, with more than 1,000 completed overall.
American / Australian agents site; http://www.mcp.com.au/sinus/index.html
The difference in the current WUWT / NASA post is that with the American modified twin fuselage, a very good load of very high tech, high energy density batteries can be carried enabling the range and the performance that was achieved by the Taurus Electro G4.
But there are other very high performance electrically launched sail planes like the “Antares 20E ; 20 meter electric self launching, very high performance sail plane.
http://www.lange-aviation.com/htm/english/products/antares_20e/antares_20E.html
And a view of their fuel celled aircraft under development on the site as well..
And then there is also the Italian built “Alisport Silent” electric self launching sail plane
[ http://www.alisport.com/eu/eng/silent_b.htm ] plus a number of other European sail plane designers and manufacturers pushing ahead with new electric launch sail plane designs. Further advanced designs are underway on long range electrically powered aircraft using the very high performance characteristics of glider design as their design base to achieve the efficiencies of flight that will be necessary for electrically powered aircraft to operate on a practical basis..
And glider pilots do smile quietly at the amount of propaganda from Boeing on their “pioneering” use of FRP [ Fibre Reinforced Plastics. ] in the 737 Dreamliner.
The first fully FRP aircraft to fly was the the Akaflieg Stuttgart FS-24 Phönix which was a glider designed and built in Germany starting from 1951. [ Wiki ]
It’s first flight was on the 27 November 1957.
By 1970 the world’s production of gliders were all being manufactured in FRP except in the USA..
http://www.acmanet.org/cm/1006/feature_j1006.cfm
Some of the major fatigue work on aircraft FRP structures was done some years ago here in RMIT in Melbourne Australia. We had RMIT’s heavily instrumented two seat gust and aerodynamic loads data sampling glider operating from our local airstrip for some time as the researchers developed the aerodynamic gust and loading profiles for their FRP fatigue test rig.
They ran that fatigue test glider which included major repairs to the spar structure in one wing for some 30,000 hours without any fatigue problems and then somebody accidently / carelessly left the infrared heating test lights on over the weekend on just the one wing.
Disaster! The wing lost partial strength and deformed under the sustained heat of the infrared lamps..
The European FRP glider designers were absolutely delighted. Now they knew exactly how much heat and energy were the limiting factors before FRP structures of this type started to suffer loss of structural strength.
Scale it up to 150 passengers and then I’ll believe it.
Until then, buying shares in airlines at the end of the oil era is a bad idea.
While I have not explored to see if costs for these experimental aircraft are available, they are almost certainly are and will remain very expensive. Practical lightweight battery technology capable of storing the necessary usable power remain limited to the type frequently used in in modern radio controlled helicopters (Lithium-Polymer or A123). These are very pricey.
A very interesting article, although it is difficult to believe that there is anything here that will realistically take aviation into the nirvana of a green future. Though this does not mean we should not keep exploring and trying.
Fusion electric power will make these planes practical.