There was an electric-powered EarthStar Gull at Flabob on Saturday. Made some orbits around the pattern. A very clean installation, and a surprisingly tiny battery pack, which unfortunately I missed in my photography. Forgive the low-quality photos - these were from my cell phone. The ribbed black disk just foward of the prop is the motor itself. PTAirco and I both noted what appears to be a mountain-bike brake disk between the prop and the motor, but there was no caliper. PT thought (and upon reflection, I agree) that the builder probably intends to be able to stop the prop in a particular orientation and do some power-off soaring. You can see the silvery brake disk in the middle photo.
The battery pack was just in front of the control stick in the cockpit, and was approximately a foot square and maybe ten inches deep. Seemed to be filled with packs of R/C airplane propulsion batteries - several people made that comment. Packs of smaller cells wrapped in yellow shrink-wrap, and then the packs were 'packed' in the main battery box. Wish I'd gotten a picture.
He taxied under power from his tie-down, took off, and made at least three orbits of the pattern (including a "high speed" pass) before landing. I don't know what his actual maximum endurance might be on that small pack, but the airplane seemed to be adequately powered for takeoff and climb.
The battery pack was just in front of the control stick in the cockpit, and was approximately a foot square and maybe ten inches deep. Seemed to be filled with packs of R/C airplane propulsion batteries - several people made that comment. Packs of smaller cells wrapped in yellow shrink-wrap, and then the packs were 'packed' in the main battery box. Wish I'd gotten a picture.
He taxied under power from his tie-down, took off, and made at least three orbits of the pattern (including a "high speed" pass) before landing. I don't know what his actual maximum endurance might be on that small pack, but the airplane seemed to be adequately powered for takeoff and climb.
