Presentation: December 2021 (!)

This month's AE presenter: Kailash
Date of presentation: 13-Dec-2021
Subject: The X-57 Maxwell
Description: For this month's presentation, Kailash talked about the X-57 Maxwell, an experimental electric-powered aircraft currently under development at NASA.  This is not just a standard airplane fitted with electric motors; it is essentially a testbed for a variety of new technologies being developed specifically for electric aircraft, including a total of 14 motors (12 specifically for takeoff and the two other, larger motors for cruise flight) mounted on the wing's leading edge rather than suspended underneath it, and fitted with propellers that can be folded during flight to reduce drag.

Here's a link to Kailash's YouTube video presentation regarding the X-57 Maxwell:

https://youtu.be/6q8lSd5o8eE

Due to scheduling issues, we rarely have time for an aerospace presentation in December, so this was a rare experience!

Presentation: November 2013

This month's AE presenter: David
Date of presentation: 25-Nov-2013
Subject: Electric and Hybrid Aircraft
Description: Environmental concerns and associated legislation are forcing people to rethink aircraft propulsion systems. Last month, Jeff discussed alternatives to avgas. This month, David discussed alternatives to conventional internal combustion (reciprocating and gas turbine) engines. We are starting to see electric motors used for lightweight general aviation aircraft. Aircraft offered by Pipstrel and Greenwing for recreational flying are starting to approach the performance of some LSA. Gas-Eletric hybrid aircraft offer better performance since the internal combustion engine provide good power vs. weight for takeoff and climb.  Hybrids can be designed with motors in series or in parallel. Current limitations in battery technology and the weight associated with wiring prevents building heavier hybrid commercial airliners. Using electric and hybrid propulsion for larger transport aircraft is at least 20 years away.

Download PDF (3.4 MB)

Aerospace Minute by David

On 28 October, David talked about an electric airplane that EADS demonstrated at the Paris Airshow. EADs is the parent company of Airbus. The aircraft as dual ducted fans, 31ft wingspan, and weighs 1212 lbs. It can fly 1 hour at 110 mph, and carries two people in a tandem seating configuration. The interesting thing about the airplane is that it is fully aerobatic. It can fly for approximately 30 minutes when flying aerobatics. Although not yet a practical form of transportation, electric aircraft such as this are becoming more capable.