Progress continues on electric aircraft, prototype expected to be unveiled in April

EL1-1At this summer’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Germany’s Calin Gologan introduced his new E-Plane line of electric powered aircrafts: the Elektra One (one-seater), Elektra Two (two-seater) and Elektra Four (four-seater).

Just recently Gologan revealed that the molds of the fuselage and wings of the Elektra One are “as good as finished.”

“At the end of November we will be so far to show you pictures from the whole aircraft and give you some technical specifications,” he promised.

Calin_Gologan_10-2009The prototype of the Elektra One will be presented at AERO 2010 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in April at the E-Flight-Expo trade show, he added.

Gologan said he had followed the global development of electric planes for decades, when a competition convinced him to start the Elektra One project. NASA and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation initiated a prize for the most energy-saving aircraft in the world. The Green Prize Challenge in aeronautics — with prize money totaling $1.5 million — is slated for 2011.

In his quest to win the prize, Gologan has formed an international team of engineers and pilots to develop the Elektra One, which integrates modern technologies such as batteries, electric motors, solar cells and the lightest fiber composite structures.

For more information: PC-aero.de