Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/254584
8 Vol.3 No.2 / Februar y 2014 FLIGHTLINE ADVENTURE AIRCRAFT, a subsidiary of Rainbow Aviation, announced the success- ful fi rst fl ights of its new Electric Motor Glider 6 (EMG-6). This aircraft is a joint collaboration between Adventure Aircraft and Quicksilver Aeronautics. The EMG-6 fl ew on December 20, 2013, at Corning Municipal Airport in Corning, California, and was piloted by aircraft designer Brian Carpenter. The glider was towed aloft by a 400-cc Honda quad runner. Although the aircraft is equipped with a small electric motor to fi t into the FAR Part 103 category (allowing for fl ight without an FAA pilot certifi cate), all of the initial fl ight tests were con- ducted as a pure glider without any of the drag reduction enhancements and without the use of power. Flight testing will continue into the spring with a multitude of dif erent confi gurations: pure glider, glider with a single-engine electric sustainer motor, 40-hp single-engine, twin-engine, and tri-motor confi gurations. Testing will continue by evaluating several combina- tions of speed fairings, gap seals, and cockpit enclosures, most of which will be manufactured from lightweight carbon- fi ber materials. The EMG-6 aircraft can be built as a single-place, FAR Part 103 ultralight and then legally converted at a later date into a two-place experimental aircraft. The folding wing and folding tail design reduces the machine's storage footprint, making it possible to fold the aircraft and store it in your garage at home. With a gross weight design limit of 750 pounds, theoretical fl ights last- ing as long as three hours are possible using current battery technology. The prototype aircraft will be fl own initially with two 20-hp brushless Predator 37 motors manufactured by Plettenberg of Germany. The motors, controllers, bat- teries, and propellers are all of -the-shelf components currently used in the giant- scale, radio-controlled aircraft industry. Adventure Aircraft also feels there are several other viable powerplants that are currently available. This aircraft can be built as an experi- mental amateur-built aircraft, and it can be fl own with a fi xed-wing sport pilot certifi cate without a glider rating as long as the aircraft is fl own as a single-place aircraft. Additionally, a glider pilot can fl y it as an electric-powered glider with multiple engines without a multiengine rating. No medical certifi cate is required. Adventure Aircraft hopes to of er an entry-level kit near a $10,000 price range and is diligently working on a fast-build kit requiring less than 80 hours to assemble. While Adventure Aircraft currently uses a four-wheeler to tow the prototype, thousands of aircraft are capable of tow- ing the EMG-6 (with a tow speed range from 30 to 60 mph). Learn more about the EMG-6 at www.ElectricMotorGlider.com . Quicksilver EMG Makes First Flight THE ELITE VERSION OF Progressive Aerodyne's SeaRey light-sport amphibious airplane received FAA certifi cation in December. It's powered by the turbocharged Rotax 914 and of ers a large sliding canopy that can remain open while fl ying, GPS, angle of attack and gear position warning systems, wide cabin, and more. "We are so pleased and excited about being able to of er our SeaRey light-sport amphibious Elite to the market," said Adam Yang, company CEO. The first SeaRey flew in November 1992, and kits were offered by the family-owned business. Progressive Aerodyne is now in full production of two configurations of Searey amphibious airplanes, the SeaRey and the SeaRey Elite. In addition, the company continues to manufacture kits. For more information, visit www.searey.com or call 855-732-7395. Newly Approved SeaRey Elite Photography courtesy of Adventure Aircraft E A A E X P _ F e b 1 4 . i n d d 8 EAAEXP_Feb14.indd 8 2 / 3 / 1 4 3 : 1 2 P M 2/3/14 3:12 PM