FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Diane Simard, Sr. Vice President E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +1-303-817-7676 www.AEAC.com
“Sun Flyer” Solar Electric Technology Demonstrator Completes First Flight Press Gathering at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on July 27 from 6-8 p.m.
DENVER, Colorado – July 22, 2014 – The single-seat technology demonstrator for the “Sun Flyer” solar-electric airplane completed first flight tests and will make its public debut at a press gathering July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. local time, the evening before the official start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Sun Flyer, being developed by Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. (AEAC) in conjunction with its development partners, Bye Aerospace and PC-Aero, are planning to offer the first U.S.-sponsored, practical, all-electric airplane serving the training, recreational and general aviation markets. AEAC is also collaborating with Redbird Flight Simulations to offer a comprehensive pilot training system.
Through a license relationship with PC-Aero to develop the Sun Flyer, the PC Aero “Elektra One” single-seat technology demonstrator was specially modified to incorporate many of Sun Flyer’s design parameters and advanced propulsion technology. The technology demonstrator completed its first full flight at an airfield near Munich, Germany earlier this week.
Calin Gologan, Founder and CEO of PC-Aero, said the flight achieved a significant milestone. “Today marks the beginning of a great collaboration with AEAC and the evolution of the next generation solar-electric trainer,” he said.
George Bye, Chairman and CEO of AEAC, said the technology demonstrator’s performance during initial flight testing exceeded expectations. “Early aircraft operating analysis is confirming that eventual operating costs will be many times lower than the costs associated with similar airplanes equipped with Avgas-burning internal combustion engines,” he said. “After several years of research and development, various elements of solar-electric propulsion technology have now matured to the point where significant operating cost savings can be realized, together with the appropriate flight endurance to accomplish the critically important flight training mission.”
Additional flight testing will be performed with the technology demonstrator later this year at the AEAC facility at Centennial Airport near Denver. “The data we gather during these extensive flight tests will help us continue to define and refine the design requirements and objectives for the future complete prototypes of Sun Flyer,” said Charlie Johnson, President of AEAC and an industry advocate for electric propulsion systems for light aircraft.
AEAC will unveil the specially-modified “Elektra One” single-seat technology demonstrator for its solar-electric training airplane called “Sun Flyer” at a press gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. local time July 27, the evening before the official start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The press conference will take place at Redbird Flight Simulations’ display area (see map below and attached).
The demonstrator will also be available for viewing at the Redbird Flight Simulations display area during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 28 through Aug. 3.
For additional details about the press gathering, contact Diane Simard at [email protected] or (303) 817-7676.
ABOUT AERO ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT CORP. Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. was created to produce, under license, the 2-seat “Sun Flyer” aircraft and bring it to market. For more information, go to www.AEAC.aero.
ABOUT BYE AEROSPACE, INC. Bye Aerospace, founded in 2007 and headquartered near Denver, is applying clean energy solutions to innovative aircraft designs for the general aviation and defense markets. For more information, go to www.ByeAerospace.com.
ABOUT PC-AERO, GMBH PC-Aero GmbH specializes in the complete design, prototyping and certification of general aviation aircraft. The core competences of the company are general aerodynamic layout, flight mechanics and simulation, structure layout, load assumptions, structure calculations and fatigue test. For more information go to www.PC-Aero.de.
ABOUT REDBIRD FLIGHT SIMULATIONS Redbird Flight Simulations was established in 2006 with the specific purpose of making simulation more accessible to the general aviation industry. Since its inception Redbird has delivered innovative, reliable and high-quality training devices to flight schools, colleges, universities and individual pilots around the world. For more information go to www.RedbirdFlightSimulations.com.
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