Flight Test Program Expected To Continue For Several Months

More than 50 years after the first flight of the Std. Libelle, a new chapter of the Glasflügel history has been opened with a recent development.

On April 9, the Std. Libelle 201 BE with the registration D-KLIB performed the first self-launch. The system uses a 20KW electric motor driving a four-foot two bladed propeller. For Hansjörg and Christian Streifeneder, it was an important milestone towards the certification of the system after 24 months of work. The layout of the concept was part of bachelor degree in aeronautics of Peter Speidel which makes him a key person of this project.

The weight of the “Electric Libelle“ is similar to a Std. Libelle 201b with water ballast and the stall speeds are only slightly higher than an unballasted Std. Libelle. On take off the climb was eight to ten feet per second, and supported projections. The noise and vibration are reportedly a lot less compared to the normal combustion engines. The battery capacity provides a motor run time of up to one hour.

The flight test program is expected to continue for the next several months.

(Image provided with Standard-Libelle Glasflügel news release)

FMI: streifly.de