Flylight E-Dragon

The Flylight E-Dragon is a British electric ultralight trike, designed by Ben Ashman and prototyped by Flylight Airsports of Northamptonshire. The aircraft was under development in 2011.[1]

E-Dragon
Role Ultralight trike
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Flylight Airsports
Designer Ben Ashman
Status Under development (2011)
Developed from Flylight Dragonfly

Design and development

The aircraft was developed from the Flylight Dragonfly single place, retractable landing gear trike. The E-Dragon features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit without a cockpit fairing, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single electric motor in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.3 m (33.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a 10 kW (13 hp) Geiger HP Direct 10 electric motor powering a folding 140 cm (55 in) propeller. The power source is a 2.6 kWh Lithium ion battery, which provides a normal flight duration of 30 minutes or 15 minutes at full power.[1]

A number of different engines have been tested, including an E-Lift 10 kW (13 hp) plus an electric powerplant of 13.5 kW (18 hp). The prototype used an Aeros Discus wing.[1]

Specifications (E-Dragon)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 14.7 m2 (158 sq ft)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Geiger HP Direct 10 electric aircraft engine with a 2.6 kWh Lithium Ion battery, 9.7 kW (13 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed folding composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn)
  • Endurance: 30 minutes at normal power
  • Rate of climb: 2.3 m/s (450 ft/min)
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References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 213. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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