The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers
Issue link: http://amt.epubxp.com/i/904741
MANUFACTURING INNOVATIONS 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY f you are trying to follow today's technological avia- tion news these words are popping up in almost an annoying manner: E-Flight and the Green Flight. As soon as you think you understand the meaning of those words, a new version of the meaning or its synonym is there. So what does E-Flight mean and why is it used together with the word Green? Is this going to affect our future? Is this trend likely to affect us now, in a few years, or is it only a pos- sible, long-term perspective? Questions and possible answers are: yes, no, maybe, for sure, and never. Our initial intention was to write one article and explain the world of electric flight. It soon became obvious that much more space was needed for this, let's call it aircraft electrification. This is just a teaser article and it's going to give you a superficial overview of the "Electric Aviation World." More articles will follow in next issues of AMT; each of those articles will focus on a different aspect in more detail. We will talk about electric propulsion/flight, electric subsystems, about differ- ent types and families of aircraft which are and will be partially or solely electrically propelled, about the storage and production of electric energy on board of airplanes, and finally about the impact of electricity on aviation and on a possibly greener future in aviation. A simple explanation of electric flight is not there because too many meanings are hidden and are used around this term. Actually, it will be easier and more correct to talk about the use of electric energy in aviation because the use of electricity is what is behind the meaning and E-Flight. ELECTRIC FLIGHT Electric propulsion is already in our lives, there are tons of electric bicycles, scooters in the streets, and cars that are not head turners any more — elec- tricity provides that extra impulse to get modern travelers on their way. We have already seen many, more or less suc- cessful, propulsion applications in the automotive world ranging from various hybrids to pure electric solutions. The energy for propulsion and electricity needed for the electronic components that allow you to drive and control those electric motors in cars could be applied to aviation. E-FLIGHT ROOTS So, if this is nothing special anymore on the road, why don't we see any electric aircraft? Well this is not true because the Slovenian UL/LSA manufac- turer Pipistrel exhibited and offered for sale the all-electric two-seat Alpha Trainer at AirVenture 2017. Even the FAA personnel who were spotted in the booth were surprised that this aircraft is in serial production and legal to fly in some countries. Visitors to AERO 2017 in Germany could wit- ness a real fireworks of novelties. This electric trend in Europe has once more picked up speed. Companies such as Siemens AG, Pipistrel, Geiger, MGM Compro, Evolaris, Engiro, just to mention Electrification and Aircra — Is the Green Goal the Future of Aviation? By Marino Boric MARINO BORIC graduated with a university degree as an aeronautic engineer, and acquired degrees in business development/ trade and commerce and in journalism. He is a civil and military pilot and has built experimental aircraft. As a journalist, he specializes in aviation and propulsion and travels worldwide, flight-testing UL, LSA, Experimental, and certified aircraft. He is writing for U.S., European, and Chinese media companies.