The Flylight E-Dragon is a British electric ultralight trike, designed by Ben Ashman and prototyped by Flylight Airsports of Northamptonshire. The aircraft was under development in 2011.[1]

E-Dragon
Role Ultralight trike
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Flylight Airsports
Designer Ben Ashman
Status Under development (2011)
Developed from Flylight Dragonfly

Design and development

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The aircraft was developed from the Flylight Dragonfly single place, retractable landing gear trike. The E-Dragon features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat open cockpit without a cockpit fairing, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single electric motor in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10.3 m (33.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a 10 kW (13 hp) Geiger HP Direct 10 electric motor powering a folding 140 cm (55 in) propeller. The power source is a 2.6 kWh Lithium ion battery, which provides a normal flight duration of 30 minutes or 15 minutes at full power.[1]

A number of different engines have been tested, including an E-Lift 10 kW (13 hp) plus an electric powerplant of 13.5 kW (18 hp). The prototype used an Aeros Discus wing.[1]

Specifications (E-Dragon)

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Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 14.7 m2 (158 sq ft)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Geiger HP Direct 10 electric aircraft engine with a 2.6 kWh Lithium Ion battery, 9.7 kW (13 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed folding composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 95 km/h (59 mph, 51 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn)
  • Endurance: 30 minutes at normal power
  • Rate of climb: 2.3 m/s (450 ft/min)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 213. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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