Rahul, I would have preferred something like an eOdyssey for the reasons you say. Currently (pun intended) an eGull with the largest battery available just barely meets my 'needs' for acceptable range.
On the other hand, perhaps in five years battery technology will have continued its advance so that would be viable. Maybe then I will have single seater for sale.
--ray
soaring/e gull
-
mkoxxy
Re: soaring/e gull
That is a much better option, Ray. I can take my two 2.8kWh batteries out
without removing the wing, but anything larger requires a hoist and
removing, then reinstalling the wing, which takes about as much time as you
get in flying time (plus a helper or two).
I had asked Mark if he could envision a battery door that would allow
sliding the battery out sideways (as on the motorcycles). Maybe even
incorporate a jettison system to ditch the battery if it ever overheated or
caught on fire? Too complicated structurally, and would add weight, of
course. Dropping the pack out the bottom is not an option due to the
control cables and trim tube.
Re: "borrowed" outlet: The FBO at my airstrip let me use a 110VAC outlet at
no extra cost over the std $35/month tie down fee. However, this was a GFCI
outlet, which turned out to be faulty (40V between neutral and ground). I
think that may have damaged my electronics, when I knelt on the grass and
touched the cage. Mark says he has many stories of defective GFCI
outlets... Make sure yours is OK, or do not use the GND lead.
without removing the wing, but anything larger requires a hoist and
removing, then reinstalling the wing, which takes about as much time as you
get in flying time (plus a helper or two).
I had asked Mark if he could envision a battery door that would allow
sliding the battery out sideways (as on the motorcycles). Maybe even
incorporate a jettison system to ditch the battery if it ever overheated or
caught on fire? Too complicated structurally, and would add weight, of
course. Dropping the pack out the bottom is not an option due to the
control cables and trim tube.
Re: "borrowed" outlet: The FBO at my airstrip let me use a 110VAC outlet at
no extra cost over the std $35/month tie down fee. However, this was a GFCI
outlet, which turned out to be faulty (40V between neutral and ground). I
think that may have damaged my electronics, when I knelt on the grass and
touched the cage. Mark says he has many stories of defective GFCI
outlets... Make sure yours is OK, or do not use the GND lead.
-
raystl1
Re: soaring/e gull
Having to remove the wing after every flight would have been a deal breaker.
Martin, thanks for the tip about faulty GFCI. That would never have occurred to me. I will check.
Martin, thanks for the tip about faulty GFCI. That would never have occurred to me. I will check.
-
blaswichk
Re: soaring/e gull
Well if I give up the 503 for a battery, I’m going to have two batteries, and they will change out in a rack. In and out in 3 minutes or less is the goal. It’s doable. After all we are amateur airplane guys. We build or buy what we want or need. We just have to be creative, Wilbur and Orville were.