Single-Place Aircraft Promises 100 Knot Cruise, Range Of 300 NM

A break in the weather in the U.K. October 30th allowed the team at e-Go, which is developing a single-place microlight airplane, to conduct its first flight. According to the company blog and Facebook page, test pilot Keith Dennison flew the canard-configured airplane for about 30 minutes to an altitude of 4,000 feet at a speed of 80 knots. A second, one-hour flight followed the initial flight.

Specs listed on the website indicated that the e-Go is powered by a 30 hp, Roton wankel engine. At a projected 100 knot cruise, it is expected to burn about 1.7 gallons per hour and have a range of over 300 nm. The MGL iEFIS glass panel will be linked to an e-Go data acquisition system and Roton e-Go ECU, It will provide checklists, flight instruments, engine monitoring, and navigation.

The first flight was held at the Norfolk Gliding Club.

Regulations in the U.K. governing such aircraft are different from those in the U.S. The company says that while it is classified as a microlight in the U.K., the airplane would fall under the Light Sport category in the U.S. On its website, the company says that they plan to offer an experimental version in the U.S., followed by LSA kits and completed airplanes.

And, with names available like Alter e-Go or Super e-Go, the company says it will be difficult to resist building a two-seat model of the airplane.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: www.e-goaeroplanes.com