E-Genius
"eGenius" - Breaking Records
Just a couple of weeks after its maiden flight at the end of May, the e-Genius electric aircraft has now winged its way into the record books - managing to stay aloft for over two hours and maintain an average speed of 100 mph (160 kph).
Its University of Stuttgart development team are now looking to improve on that performance, ahead of the 2011 Green Flight Challenge for which it was designed. |
Pushing the boundaries with "eGenius"
Airbus is a primary sponsor of the electrically-propelled two-seat eGenius aircraft, which pushes the limits of electronic flight. Airbus also is looking at emission-free electric propulsion, and is supporting basic research activities for electric aircraft concepts.
The “eGenius” technology demonstrator, an electrically-propelled two-seater aircraft designed by the University of Stuttgart, Germany’s Institute of Aircraft Design was presented for the first time at the international Aero-Expo in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in 2011. Six weeks later, “eGenius” performed its maiden flight.
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This aircraft features an electric propulsion system which pushes the limits of electric flight to a power level of 60kW. In the following flight test campaign, the flight envelope will be enlarged continuously by verifying the electric propulsion’s flight performance and reliability.
Airbus, as main sponsor of the “eGenius” project, is examining the long-term potential of electricity as alternative major onboard energy source. The data collected from the practical operation with the “eGenius” aircraft will be analysed by Airbus’ Future Projects teams to further develop the technology and better understand its opportunities.
Text, video and photographs, © Airbus SAS 2013 – All rights reserved.
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