Hybrid og el.fly vist under Aero Friedrichshaven

Aero: Siemens And FlyEco Show Off Hybrid   JASON BAKER     Timed just ahead of Aero Friedrichshafen, Siemens claims the world's first serial production-capable hybrid aircraft completed its maiden flight in Hungary. Siemens, which has embarked upon intensive development in aircraft electric motors, teamed with FlyEco to produce a hybrid model driven by both batteries and a three-cylinder diesel engine.    The aircraft is called the Magnus eFusion and derives primary thrust from a Siemens SP55D motor powered by batteries for quiet takeoffs and landings and the FlyEco diesel coupled to a generator for extended range. Siemens developed both the generator and the critical motor controller for the eFusion. Siemens’ Frank Anton said the airplane completed its first flight on April 11. Recall that AVweb reported on the FlyEco diesel in 2016. The engine is adapted from the Mercedes-Bez Smart Car powerplant and is an advanced diesel design with common rail injection and electronic controls. No data on performance was available, but we’ll stand by for more information on this hybrid.

Aero: Skyleader Pure Electric LSA Flies   JASON BAKER     Electric airplanes have been making inroads at Aero in Friedrichshafen and this year’s bumper crop included a model from the Czech-based Jihlavan Airplanes in concert with MGM COMPRO. The two companies were showing a pure electric version of the Skyleader 400, a slick, low-wing light sport model. The airplane actually appeared at Aero last year in prototype form but the version on the floor this year has flown successfully. The Skyleader isn’t well known in the U.S., but it’s noted for a huge canopy and a wide cabin. In the gasoline version, it can be powered by the Rotax 912UL or ULS or the turbocharged 914. The electric version has an 80 kW electric motor and about 145 amp-hours worth of batteries, according to the company, with two packs in the front of the airplane and two in the rear. MGM also provides the motor’s power controller. Because of their power density, electric motors have generally required fluid cooling via oil and a small radiator. Pictured here is a fluid-cooled version, but the company is developing an air-cooled variant, which may reduce installation complexity.