New aircraft from the UK

A Cessna Skyhawk and flies up to 4 people for 640 nautical miles (735 miles) at cruising speed of 124 kts with a 917 lb useful load, and requires 1,630 ft runway to land. Price roughly $300K.

An e-Go plane is a single seat craft with 330 miles at a cruising speed of 100 kts (never exceed 135 kts) with a pilot weight of up to 242 lbs and 35 pounds of luggage. Ground roll is less than 500'. Price not set, but possibly $80K.



The e-Go pilot must be under 6'4", but the small wing in the front and large canopy provides an unusual wide view. The noise is very low compared to a normal small plane. Given the limited specifications it is being marketed more as a hobby craft then as a serious travel vehicle. But as Las Vegas North Air Terminal(VGT) to Van Nuys Arpt, Los Angeles, CA (VNY) is 240 miles, it should easily make that trip.



Do you think there will be a substantial market?

4 people in a Cessna. Yeah, if 2 of them are
kids that weigh under 50 pounds each.

I don't know if that qualifies as Light Sport or Experimental, but Light Sport licenses are a lot easier to obtain and keep than a regular full pilot's license.

Quote: Dalex64

I don't know if that qualifies as Light Sport or Experimental, but Light Sport licenses are a lot easier to obtain and keep than a regular full pilot's license.

In the UK the microlight license is called NPPL (National Private Pilots License). It sounds like the UK requirements are a little more stringent than the US requirements. For instance in the UK the maximum stall speed is 35 knots, while it is 45 knots in the US. The UK NPPL license is for smaller planes than the US Light Sport license.

Their are new UK single-seat deregulated category.

LSA definition in the United States
In the United States, the FAA has defined the LSA airworthiness requirements to mean an aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift that, since its original certification, has continued to meet the following:

• A maximum takeoff weight of not more than 1,320 pounds (600 kilograms) for aircraft not intended for operation on water; or 1,430 pounds (650 kilograms) for an aircraft intended for operation on water.
• A maximum airspeed in level flight with maximum continuous power (VH ) of not more than 120 knots CAS under standard atmospheric conditions at sea level.
• A maximum never-exceed speed (VNE ) of not more than 120 knots CAS for a glider.
• A maximum stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed without the use of lift-enhancing devices of not more than 45 knots CAS at the aircraft's maximum certificated takeoff weight and most critical center of gravity.
• A maximum seating capacity of two persons, including the pilot.
• A single, reciprocating engine, if powered.
• A fixed-pitch propeller or ground-adjustable propeller, except for powered gliders which can have a feathering propeller system.
• A fixed-pitch, semi-rigid, teetering, two-blade rotor system, if a gyroplane.
• A nonpressurized cabin, if equipped with a cabin.
• Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider.
• Fixed or retractable landing gear, or a hull, for an aircraft intended for operation on water.
• Fixed or retractable landing gear for a glider.

Many of the US light planes use the Rotax 912. a normally aspirated, air- and water-cooled, horizontally opposed four-cylinder, four-stroke, gear reduction-drive engine.

The e-Go aeroplanes will be powered by a Wankel engine from Rotron Power Ltd.

It's barely bigger than a drone.

Quote: Pacomartin

Do you think there will be a substantial market?

Heck, why not There is already a market. The trouble is that flying requires recent practice and some executive who wants to just up and go to Vegas for the weekend shouldn't be at the controls of a plane that is beyond his skills just because its not beyond his wallet.

Its also a question of instrument ability. The FAA makes it easy to get an instrument certification in the hopes that it then becomes easy to keep current, but often skills are rusty and only get used when the pilot is bleeting on the radio instead of flying the plane. Consider the Lancair IV,, perfect plane for flying from California to Vegas. Fast, fuel efficient, comfortable... but easy to stall with many fatal accidents on landing or in inadvertent transitioning to instrument conditions. Focus has to be inside the plane, not on the airport or clouds. Difficult for a low time pilot to do.

Licenses? Sometimes the more limiting aspect is keeping the third class medical certificate.

Wives and girl friends don't like to be away from a ladies room for that long a time particularly in middle age.

A BD-5J is fast but carries little fuel.

Oh,,, its not airspeed but INDICATED air speed and that means "get clever with where we place the pitot tube" so we can have it indicate whats legal instead of what is actual.

Automotive engines are cheap and reliable and electric planes are getting to look real interesting.

Quote: Fleastiff

and electric planes are getting to look real interesting.

The e-Go is interesting because it uses a Wankel engine. In principle, a Wankel engine should be ideal for light aircraft, as it is light, compact, almost vibrationless and has a high power-to-weight ratio. Further aviation benefits of a Wankel engine include:

• Rotors cannot seize, since rotor casings expand more than rotors;
• A Wankel engine is less prone to the serious condition known as "engine-knock", which can destroy the plane's engines mid-flight.
• A Wankel is not susceptible to "shock-cooling" during descent;
• A Wankel does not require an enriched mixture for cooling at high power;
• Having no reciprocating parts, there is less vulnerability to damage when the engines revolves higher than the designed maximum running operation. The limit to the revolutions is the strength of the main bearings.

The vision would be miniature airports launching relatively small aircraft using a ski jump runway providing the power needed for takeoff. They could run on battery for the short distance. A concept could launch hundreds of people per hour for short ranges (like Anaheim to Las Vegas). As these passengers have a final destination of Vegas they do not need to change flights.It would take the pressure off the larger airports which need their runways for longer distance flights. Unlike high speed rail you wouldn't face the near insurmountable problems of purchasing land, and constructing the rail through the El Cajon pass.



Average number of passengers daily to Las Vegas (one direction)
3200 LAX
675 John Wayne
510 Ontario Airport

Quote: Pacomartin

Average number of passengers daily to Las Vegas (one direction)
3200 LAX
675 John Wayne
510 Ontario Airport

How many gamblers? How many hookers? How many clubers?
Wankel is already rotory motion which is good for a propeller.

Siemens discusses Electric Hybrid Drives for Aircraft.

The drive system has a scalable output and can be expanded to power planes for 50 to 100 passengers. The system should achieve type certification in the general aviation category in three to five years.

Without the noise, or long runways, these micro-airports could be viable alternatives to high speed rail terminals.

Quote: Pacomartin

Without the noise, or long runways, these micro-airports could be viable alternatives to high speed rail terminals.

Cost of acquiring land and holding hearings about massive construction projects and noise abatement go way down when its just a micro-airport. Smaller, edge cities will do well but even the high density urban areas will benefit from the quiet flight of electrics.

Many rural areas have expensive lodges or fishing camps where the guest pay a few grand. Places like that get a clientele that doesn't want to put up with too many annoying delays in getting there. Fly in to a two grand a day salmon fishing camp, quiet airplane won't disturb anyone, some remote inns and hot springs may become thriving businesses again despite poorly maintained roads or being far from the freeway.