Electric Assist Boosts Power 40 HP, Increases Safety, FD Says

Flight Design is developing a hybrid engine that their engineers say will boost the power of a standard Rotax 914 by 40 HP for takeoff and climb, and to stretch fuel at normal cruise.

At a news conference at AirVenture 2009 at Oshkosh, engineer Oliver Reinhardt said that the engine is not designed for the LSA market, but rather as a powerplant for a larger aircraft. "The basic engine is not touched", Reinhardt said. The Rotax works as a normal engine with no loss of power when the electric assist is not in use.

In a background statement provided by Flight Design, the electric motor is described as taking the place of an auxiliary generator.  It delivers power to the propeller via a V-belt drive, which FD says will not overload the engine crankshaft. "The electric drive doesn't care about density altitude", Reinhardt said.  He added that for pilots operating in very cold climates where starting can be a problem, you can use a "40 horsepower starter."

Reinhardt said safety is enhanced by this hybrid engine. The Rotax will operate normally should the electric motor fail, and should the reciprocating engine fail, the electric motor can extend the aircraft glide ratio, allowing the pilot additional landing options. The lithium-iron batteries can be recharged in flight by the standard engine generator, and the windmilling prop during descent can also re-charge the batteries.

Oliver Reinhardt

Flight Design claims lower fuel consumption and emission with the hybrid engine. They say the electric motor provides 95% efficiency at 7,000 RPM.

The engine is currently in bench test phase for proof of concept. Flight Design says it plans to continue the ground testing, and hopes to be able to fly with the engine later this year.

Mathias Betsch

At the same news conference, Flight Design CEO Mathias Betsch said he things the LSA market has a lot of room to grow, and that the demand for LSA's will take off as the recession ends. They also used the event to announce a new distributer for the western U.S. Flight Design West in Las Vegas, a Cirrus supercenter, will represent Flight Design in the region in conjunction with Lone Mountain Aviation and Lone Mountain Aircraft Sales.

FMI: www.FlightDesignUSA.com