HN Theater @HNTheaterMonth

If you're interested in the electrification of flight check out this episode of Fully Charged: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1g1JrRRkY

Its kindof like a "roadster" for the sky.

I was really impressed by the contra-rotating prop opportunity that becomes possible because of how small electric engines are (for their power).

⬐ mrfusion

I feel like it would chop up The air too much for the second propeller?

⬐ andlier

The issue with the «chopping» is noise level. Counter rotating propellers are more efficient than a single propeller. «Contra-rotating propellers have been found to be between 6% and 16% more efficient than normal propellers.» https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra-rotating_propellers

⬐ Bromskloss

> I was really impressed by the contra-rotating prop opportunity that becomes possible because of how small electric engines are (for their power).

Did that really have to do with the electric motors? They even gave an example of a combustion engine plane that did the same.

> There have been several battery-powered human carrying aircraft. Most are scaled-up quadcopters

Umm.. wat? Afaik most serious attempts for electric (battery-powered) aircraft have been fairly conventional fixed-wing designs. As you seem to like youtube videos, here are couple:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoy3Efsxp3o from Airbus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiu8TFnXYFY Siemens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiADDbeFanU Pipistrel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1g1JrRRkY Electroflight

I think the Pipistrel one is actually already shipping today.

⬐ Animats

I was just looking at the VTOL aircraft, since the parent article was about a VTOL.

⬐ lawless123

wow, it's tiny.

⬐ zeristor

I look forward to seeing it fly.

The most recent episode of Fully Charged [1] looked at a 100% electric racing plane currently in development that uses two electric motors to drive two counter rotating propellers at the front of the aircraft.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1g1JrRRkY

⬐ elmar

the use case for this aircraft is to fly 20 minutes maximum so current battery technology power to weight is enough.

The most recent episode if "fully charged" was also about a prototype electric acrobatic plane:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1g1JrRRkY

It reminded me of Tesla's evolution, where they found a niche where they can apply the benefits of electrics and rethink some basic elements of the platform most notably in the double propellers.

⬐ dghughes

Fully Charged is an interesting show but the more I watched it I found it draining how Robert Llewellyn would put down all non-electric vehicles on every episode; almost every breath. I agree electric vehicles are great but even jokingly complaining about gas engines all the time gets annoying pretty quick.

⬐ rebootthesystem

I've been flying electric powered high performance model airplanes (mostly F5B class) for decades. I'd like to think the electric r/c flight industry has been trenching this territory for quite some time. With the next 2x improvement in battery energy density cars and possibly full scale planes are going to make a huge leap forward.

Here's a video of F5B class R/C planes. It's hard to convey just how insanely fast these things are. Huge power to weight ratio and very aerodynamically efficient.

You can hear the crowd gasping at the performance they see. Also note that the motor is only turned on for a second or less at at time. If the motor were on longer these planes would reach 1,500 feet in 5 to 10 seconds tops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0z9iy2SJA0