The Lipo Powered Airplane

In the near future (or today) it may be more efficient to put a small and simple electric motor and lipo (lithium polymer) batteries to an airplane than conventional fuel with a heavy internal combustion engine with reduction gears. Check the following video what can be done with a dedicated electric motor with lipo batteries.

Lipo battery powered paraglider.

Here are two links to LiPo battery guides:

http://exoaviation.webs.com/pdf_files/Lipo%20Battery%20Guide.pdf

http://exoaviation.webs.com/pdf_files/Lipo%20Battery%20Charging%20&%20Safety.pdf

An electric paraglider motor in England (Notice the small size of the motor and batteries).



Sonex has already tested this idea.

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Bede BD-5 Transmission

The Bede BD-5 airplane had a pusher propeller which was mounted in the aft fuselage.

Bede BD-5.

Before the final version the drive system changed several times after testing. Donald P. Hessenaur documented the whole story and it can be found in this link. Here are more details about the drive system.

The freewheel solved the vibration problems.

A typical freewheel clutch.

Honda or Hirth engine.

Drive system installed.

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