Wed, Sep 24, 2003
H-36 Diamond Motorglider to Soon Get Fuel Cell, Electric
Propulsion
UQM Technologies just
told us that a UQM(r) electric propulsion system will be used in a
special project involving Boeing and five other companies to
develop and flight test an electric motor driven airplane powered
by fuel cells. The UQM electric propulsion system is being supplied
by Advanced Technology Products, Inc., who is responsible for
supplying the electric motors, controllers and batteries to be used
in the project and for flight-testing the fuel cell powered
airplane.
Work to integrate the fuel cells into the demonstrator airplane,
which is based on a certified Diamond Katana H-36 Xtreme
motor-glider (in Europe called the Super Dimona), is expected to
begin this month. This would enable a possible flight test in late
2004 or early 2005. While test results are not expected to allow
near-term applications of the new technology to production
aircraft, they are expected to contribute to the eventual use of
this technology to provide cleaner, more efficient aircraft
performance.
Last year, the Company announced that a UQM electric propulsion
system would power the E-Plane, an all-carbon French-built
DynAero Lafayette III airplane, that is being modified to be
powered by fuel cells. The E-Plane, which was on display at a
number of air shows this summer in conjunction with the 100th
anniversary of powered flight, is being developed by Advanced
Technology Products, Inc., the non-profit Foundation for Advancing
Science and Technology Education (FASTec), and a consortium of
sponsoring companies. Funding for the development of the fuel cell
system is being provided by NASA.
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