MANUFACTURING INNOVATIONS
10 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
combinations are not able to deliver. The
base of the advantage is the so-called
distributed propulsion. It means that the
energy source (the battery pack, com-
bustion engine, generator, and similar)
could be located even far away from
the electric motor(s). This initially not-
so-important looking fact is possibly a
real game changer because it opens new
not yet available options allowing the
separation of the energy source from
the electric motor/propeller. In this way
the generator and batteries (the energy
source) which are usually heavy could
be located close to the aircraft center
of gravity and inside the fuselage and
the electric motors could be located
where the designer needs them and
where they may give the biggest ben-
efit/efficiency. This allows two now not
available options: an almost unlimited
number of motors/propellers, and their
location. They can be positioned almost
anywhere on the aircraft: the wings, tail,
and fuselage.
This large number of propellers may
translate in a huge saving of energy need-
ed for the flight says NASA. Its project
called X-57 Maxwell is a good example.
Fourteen electric motors will turn propel-
lers located on a uniquely designed wing;
12 on the leading edge for take off and
landing and one larger motor on each wing
tip for use during cruise altitude.
Another new concept based on distrib-
uted power is the German Lilium airplane.
No other company is promising the econ-
omy, speed, range, and low noise levels of
the Lilium Jet. A remotely flown two-seat
prototype flew in April showing that it
could take off vertically and then smoothly
transition to horizontal flight.
ELECTRIC MULTICOPTERS
The electric revolution has started with
toys and small drones. Powered by a multi-
tude of electric motors that over time have
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EQUATOR PROTOTYPE