The Green Flight Project

Everskyward

Everskyward

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Everskyward
This is a local venture that I just heard about recently and I thought it might spark some discussion. The person behind this project is the same person who was behind the Javelin. One certainly can't fault him for having ambitious ideas and putting his money behind them.

http://www.byeenergy.com/pages/green-flight-main.html

From the FAQ:
Bye Energy is preparing an electric and electric hybrid propulsion system for application on General Aviation piston-driven airplanes. We intend to replace the conventional engine with an electric motor and system. We are not developing a whole new aircraft. We have begun discussions with various customer groups. The proof of concept evaluations will provide useful data in determining if the program is ready to proceed to accepting customer deposits.
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Adding weight, complexity and cost. Nice solution to a problem that doesn't exist...
 
Everskyward said:
Airplanes were a solution to a problem that didn't exist too...
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Sometimes I am struck by the absurdity of my hobby, but that feeling usually goes away once the wheels leave the ground.

An all electric plane would be awesome. Electricity is so much cheaper per joule than gas. It would allow me to solve the non-existent problem more efficiently.

I'm not convinced a hybrid does any good for an airplane. For cars it works out because of the variability of the power requirements and the possibility of regenerative braking. Airplanes pretty much need cruise power continuously. Perhaps you could size the engine to max out at cruise power and then use an electric motor to provide the extra 25% for take-off. Still, I don't think that saves any gas overall.
 
COFlyBoy said:
An all electric plane would be awesome. Electricity is so much cheaper per joule than gas. It would allow me to solve the non-existent problem more efficiently.
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:rofl:

I hope he succeeds. I think it will be an uphill battle though, even if the technology works because there is always resistance to change.
 
COFlyBoy said:
Sometimes I am struck by the absurdity of my hobby, but that feeling usually goes away once the wheels leave the ground.

An all electric plane would be awesome. Electricity is so much cheaper per joule than gas. It would allow me to solve the non-existent problem more efficiently.

I'm not convinced a hybrid does any good for an airplane. For cars it works out because of the variability of the power requirements and the possibility of regenerative braking. Airplanes pretty much need cruise power continuously. Perhaps you could size the engine to max out at cruise power and then use an electric motor to provide the extra 25% for take-off. Still, I don't think that saves any gas overall.
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Well, no, it doesn't work out for cars, either. The hybrid cars movement in the US is a fad promulgated by the car manufacturers. Building the hybrid motor and all the other required systems costs way more than building a modern diesel engine, and the newest hybrids are WAY less efficient than the newest diesels. And they're more expensive....

I can't think of an instance in which an electric motor really contributed to individual transportation. Public transport is a different story, at least in Europe (not so much in the U.S.).

What people always forget is that the electricity has to come from somewhere, too. In this country, that's mostly coal and oil, and given the huge losses during power transmission, you're really not coming out ahead by using electric engines....

-Felix
 
Everskyward said:
:rofl:

I hope he succeeds. I think it will be an uphill battle though, even if the technology works because there is always resistance to change.
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Not to mention the resistance to the flow of electricity. :D Sorry, a little engineering geek humor.
 
There are much simpler ways to increase the fuel economy of GA engines. The only thing really standing in the way is the FAA certification process, which is so costly that is effectively discourages implementation of "new" technologies.

I think the LSA sector will help, however. As some of the more modern, more efficient engines used in LSA prove themselves reliable, I think more and more will be certified for use in non-LSA category aircraft.

As an added benefit, when these engines become certified, those of us who fly LSA will be able to brag about our days as test pilots. :thumbsup:

-Rich
 
My '84 piper would be more efficient if I could put in a fuel injected, autogas engine. If the FAA would let me do it, without it costing me a small fortune, I'd use 5.5 gallons an hour and not 6.
The only advantage of hybrids is it has people working on the problem. Eventually, the technology will catch up. (Think Tilt-Rotor.)
 
silver-eagle said:
My '84 piper would be more efficient if I could put in a fuel injected, autogas engine. If the FAA would let me do it, without it costing me a small fortune, I'd use 5.5 gallons an hour and not 6.
The only advantage of hybrids is it has people working on the problem. Eventually, the technology will catch up. (Think Tilt-Rotor.)
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I think, whatever the technology, it takes someone who has or can raise the money to put behind the project as well as the technical expertise. If there was someone like that developing fuel injected, autogas engines for small airplanes you might see them as long as there was enough demand. It also takes someone experienced as clearing the certification hurdles to put them in production aircraft.
 
dmccormack said:
You mean the problems of high-speed transportation? Aerial photography? Mapping? Survey? Rescue?

Yep -- all far easier on horseback. :thumbsup:
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But all that was not known when airplanes were first developed.
 
Everskyward said:
But all that was not known when airplanes were first developed.
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The Wrights wanted to solve the problem of manned, controlled, powered flight. Their reasons were many, but they focused on the problems of control and power.

Once they achieved flight, the possibilities arose as they typically do when people combine D and Q in a new way.

Well, I just had a DQ Pecan Pie Blizzard, so I like D&Q.
 
dmccormack said:
The Wrights wanted to solve the problem of manned, controlled, powered flight. Their reasons were many, but they focused on the problems of control and power.

Once they achieved flight, the possibilities arose as they typically do when people combine D and Q in a new way.
Click to expand...
That's right, just like this new project. If you can't tell I was being sarcastic in my answer to Trapper.
 
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