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  1. tdrager

    Why battery-powered aircraft will never have significant range

    How does $2 per hour sound? See :
  2. tdrager

    What About EV Automobiles?

    I have four FREE EVs: bought two (financed), then invested $20k in Tesla in 2019. Tesla stock went up 15x. Now I have a Cybertruck and Aptera on order. Tesla will have 87,000 chargers installed world-wide by 2023. Charging is fun because you can take as little as 10 minutes to charge to 80% or...
  3. tdrager

    Aft Mounting of Avionics

    Thanks for your replies. The avionics boxes weigh about .5 pounds each, so no weight and balance issues there. All avionics will be controlled by an iPad Pto 12.9 on the instrument panel. Here’s a photo of the XPDR screen.
  4. tdrager

    Aft Mounting of Avionics

    What do you think of my proposal photo for mounting avionics in my Sonex Xenos electric motor glider? ADVANTAGES Flightbox Pro (from Falken Avionics) - Square orientation for better calibration. ADC (Air Data Computer) - Magnetometer isolated from all electrics. Since this is an electric...
  5. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    Incorrect. My 172 has an O300, a 145 HP motor with climb rate of 500FPM burning 8GPH. It would cost $50K to make it "better" with a new O-360 motor conversion: - Burn 10GPH - Burn 100LL at $6/gallon. That's $30/hour more than the current configuration - Put lead into the environment. Terrible...
  6. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    Batteries will get better over time. My Cessna 172 will will not. In 20 years, battery tech improvements will enable my electric Xenos to double it's range and/or it's speed.
  7. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    Agree with John.Roo When I fly out to get a hamburger, I'll spend $2.50 in electricity versus $35 with my Cessna 172, fuel only cost. I burn auto fuel in the 172. In addition: - No oil changes - No air or oil filter - No spark plugs - No mags ( My upcoming C172 magneto replacement cost is...
  8. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    70 HP from the Zero DSR motor. Density altitude does not affect motor output.
  9. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    This article inspired me to build an electric Xenos: Specs Run time 90 minutes, one Zero DSR motorcycle battery, 14KWH 120 minutes, with thermals 180 minutes, two Zero motorcycle batteries 5 minutes max takeoff full power, approximate, depending on ambient temperature Takeoff 500 feet up by...
  10. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    There is a Service Bulletin that says: Ingesting too many $100 hamburgers may block pilot tubes. Current electric airplane's limited range restrict access to these unhealthy energy sources, thereby extending the pilot's life.
  11. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    Being the President of EAA Chapter 1250, I feel the need to lead by example: Experiment with Aircraft. I am influenced by two Airventure talks by Burt Rutan and Erik Lindberg as well as Captain Kirk: Burt Rutan is bored with fossil powered aircraft. He wants us to experiment with electric...
  12. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    rv6ejguy, I hope we can discuss this as rational friends. Help me understand your comment. As you said: "The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." Data, not opinion, shows EVs offset carbon four years after manufacture. Battery lifecycle is getting greener incrementally...
  13. tdrager

    Electric Four Seat

    My $100 hamburger will cost $2.50. I am building a electric motorglider, the Sonex Xenos. - Help my Grand Daughters breath easier. - Fun to build an actual experimental airplane: Not a clone. - Very low cost to operate: $2.50 / hour in electricity. - Deepen my relationship with EAA and EV...
  14. tdrager

    Going Green Video with Zero Motorcycle, Sonex Xenos, Zaero Redrive Kit

    For the price of a Tesla, Tim shows how to build, from a kit: - Building a Sonex Xenos airplane - Converting a DSR electric motorcycle, 435 MPGe City - Using a Zaero redrive kit and motor mount See: For even more info, see: - See: https://www.youtube.com/c/NowYouKnowChannel - See...
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