E-drive for aviationElectric airplane with record-breaking motor takes off
Siemens researchers have developed a new type of electric motor for airplanes: Weighing just 50 kg, it delivers a continuous output that is five times higher than that of comparable drives. Installed in an aerobatic airplane, it has now completed its first flight in front of the public.
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© Siemens
The 'Extra 330LE' aerobatic plane took off almost silently from Dinslaken Schwarze Heide Airport on July 4, 2016. It served as a test carrier for the new Siemens engine called 'SP260D'. With an output of 260 KW and a weight of 50 kg, this engine has a record power-to-weight ratio. This was the first time that an aircraft in the CS23 certification category with permit-to-fly had flown purely electrically.
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