Page 17 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AvIATION TECHNOLOGY

An ecstatic Didier Esteyne,
E-Fan designer and test
pilot after the historic
Channel crossing in the all-
electric aircraft

development and manufacture of the and weigh 167 Kg as compared to 130 Kg propulsion system will be installed on
world’s first all-electric aircraft certified for the older batteries. However, a strict the E-Fan flying prototype. Initial testing
to international airworthiness standards.” weight saving regimen allowed overall of the concept system on a ground-
Entry into service for the all-electric aircraft weight to be reduced by 38 Kg. based platform is already underway. A
airplane is planned for 2018. Flight tests Two E-Fan aircraft were on display successful arrangement here will enable
with E-Fan have generated a substantial at the Paris Air Show this year and they the development of E-Fan 4.0, a follow-on
amount of data and over 100 flights have generated plenty of interest during their production version envisioned as a four
been completed since its maiden flight maiden appearance at Le Bourget. On seater. Final assembly of the E-Fan 2.0 and
in March 2014. Two important changes display were the E-Fan 2.0 mock-up and E-Fan 4.0 will take place at the ‘Factory of
that emerged as a result of the flight the E-fan flying prototype. The full scale the Future’ in south-western France at
tests were the need for more powerful mock-up of the E-Fan 2.0 on display, Pau Pyrénées Airport. “As a digital factory,
batteries, which would be heavier and the emulated the family look from its much it will serve to validate technological
resultant need to reduce aircraft weight. larger Airbus stablemates; the A350 ‘bricks’ on small scale that could be used
Both requirements arose from the need commercial jetliner and H160 helicopter. elsewhere within the Airbus Group: in
to cater for the longer flight time of a The mock-up also showcased a unique building jetliners for Airbus or rotorcraft
Channel crossing. cockpit layout which comprised of two for Airbus Helicopters, as examples,” said
The new battery technology that came tablet devices that act as cockpit displays Jean Botti, Airbus Group Chief Technical
about, increased the flight time from 30 and can be removed from the aircraft Officer, while announcing the site in May.
to 53 minutes. Coming up with the new before or after a flight for pilot briefing Annual production rates are planned at
batteries required was hardly a simple and debriefing. 10 a year in the initial stages. Being an
matter; three organizations: CEA Tech Planned future variants will look at ‘electric aircraft’ E-Fan, will have zero
(the French Atomic Energy and Alternative enabling longer flight durations. This in-flight carbon dioxide emissions and
Energy Commission’s technology research would require a “range extender,” that substantially reduced noise levels.
unit); Airbus Defense and Space, and not only supplies power during the
Airbus Group Innovation were involved cruise phase of the flight but also allows
in the development of the new lithium- the batteries to recharge. This will help
ion batteries. The new battery array, increase the range of the airplane.
comprises of 2,982 cells, each having a Airbus Group Innovation is leading an
capacity of 2.8 amperes per hour. The industry team, which is now running a
older lithium-polymer battery array, had ground-based hybrid testbed where a
120 flat cells each with a capacity of 40 thermal (internal combustion) engine
amperes per hour. The batteries for E-Fan complements the on-board batteries for
are located in the in-board wing sections providing energy. As a next step, a hybrid
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