Yuneec International E430

Last updated

E430
Yuneec E430.jpg
Role Light sport electric aircraft
Manufacturer Yuneec International
First flight12 June 2009
StatusProduction not started

The Yuneec International E430 is a Chinese two-seat electric aircraft that was designed for commercial production by electric model aircraft manufacturer Yuneec International. The first flight of the E430 took place from the Yuneec factory near Shanghai, China on June 12, 2009. [1] [2]

Contents

Design

The E430 is a two-seat, V tailed, composite aircraft with a high-aspect ratio wing. Take-off speed is 40 mph, cruise speed is 60 mph, and max speed is 95 mph. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The company claims that the battery packs have an expected lifespan of 1500 hours and cost US$7000 each, with the aircraft carrying 3-5 battery packs, giving two to two and half hours endurance. The batteries can be recharged in 3–4 hours from a 220 volt outlet. The company projected that by the time the first customers would require replacement battery packs that improved and less expensive ones would have been available. [6] [7]

Development

The aircraft was being developed as a kit aircraft for the US market. The development of the E430 was funded entirely by Yuneec CEO Tian Yu. The company had planned to construct a 260,000 square foot (25,000 sq m) factory to produce the aircraft in Shanghai, that was expected to open in October 2009. Production of the E430 was planned to commence in late 2010 and first customer deliveries were initially forecast for early 2011. [4] [5] [7]

The design was first flown on 12 June 2009 and then shipped for further testing to Camarillo, California. On 14 July 2009 the prototype aircraft was registered in the USA as N386CX and on 18 July 2009 it was given a Certificate of Airworthiness by the Federal Aviation Administration and further test flights were carried out, totalling 22 hours. The prototype E430 was then shipped by truck to Wisconsin and displayed at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2009. [7] [8] [9] It was also on display at that venue in summer of 2010. [10]

Yuneec was working on developing a solar-cell installation for the wings that will recharge the aircraft's batteries. [7]

In July 2009 the company estimated that the price for a commercially available light sport aircraft production version of the E430 would be US$89,000. [7] [10]

At AirVenture 2010 the company announced that it would start accepting orders for the aircraft after the show. At that date the aircraft was advertised as having an endurance of 2.25 to 2.5 hours with a useful load of 390 lb (177 kg). Deliveries were initially scheduled for late 2011, but by the end of 2012 there was no indication that more than prototypes had been completed. [11] [12]

In June 2013 it was announced that the aircraft would be produced, marketed and supported by GreenWing International, however that company went out of business in about 2014. [13] [14]

Operational history

The E430 was named the winner of the Lindberg prize for electric aircraft at AirVenture in 2010. In the same year it was named Brit Insurance Design of the Year in the transport category. [12]

By December 2012 a total of two examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration. The first one was the initial prototype shipped to the US, registered in the Experimental - Exhibition category on 14 July 2009, although its registration expired on 1 May 2013 and was not renewed. The second was registered in the Experimental - Research and Development category on 26 January 2011 to Flying Tian of Monterey Park, California. [15]

Specifications (E430)

Data from Yuneec International, AvWeb and Bayerl [2] [3] [4] [8]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight Design CT</span> German family of light aircraft

The Flight Design CT series is a family of high-wing, tricycle undercarriage, two seat, ultralight and light-sport aircraft produced by Flight Design of Germany. The family includes the original CT and the CT2K, CTSW, CTLS and the MC models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna 162 Skycatcher</span> American side-by-side two-seat light sport airplane

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher is an American side-by-side two-seat, high-wing, strut-braced, tricycle gear light-sport aircraft (LSA) that was designed and produced by Cessna between December 2009 and December 2013. Its intended market was flight training and personal use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond DA40 Diamond Star</span> Family of light aircraft

The Diamond DA40 Diamond Star is an Austrian four-seat, single-engine, light aircraft constructed from composite materials. Built in both Austria and Canada, it was developed as a four-seat version of the earlier DA20 by Diamond Aircraft Industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrafugia Transition</span> American roadable aircraft

The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable airplane under development by Terrafugia since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aero-Works Aerolite 103</span> American ultralight airplane

The Aero-Works Aerolite 103 is an American single seat, high-wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft, designed by Terry Raber and introduced by Aero-Works, Inc, of Millersburg, Ohio, in 1997. The aircraft's model number indicates that it was designed to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration FAR 103 ultralight rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flightstar</span> Type of aircraft

The Flightstar is a large family of single and two-seat, high wing, single engined kit aircraft that was produced by Flightstar Sportplanes of South Woodstock, Connecticut. In 2009 the rights, tooling and parts inventory were sold to Yuneec International of China when Flightstar Sportplanes' business was wound up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipistrel Alpha Trainer</span> Slovenian light-sport aircraft

The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is a Slovenian two-seat, single-engine light-sport aircraft intended specifically for flight training, designed and produced by Pipistrel in Gorizia, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Aircraft Sam LS</span> Canadian light aircraft

The Sam Aircraft Sam LS is a Canadian aircraft design, designed and produced by Sam Aircraft, formerly known as Haim Aviation of Lachute, Quebec. The aircraft was designed for the Canadian AULA and American light-sport aircraft rules and had its first flight on 26 February 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Aircraft Corporation ElectraFlyer-X</span> American electric aircraft

The Electric Aircraft Corporation ElectraFlyer-X is an American kit and light-sport electric aircraft, designed by Randall Fishman and at one time under development by his company Electric Aircraft Corporation of Cliffside Park, New Jersey. The ElectraFlyer-X was introduced at AirVenture in 2009. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonex Aircraft SubSonex</span> American jet-powered homebuilt airplane

The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samson Switchblade</span> American roadable aircraft

The Samson Switchblade is an American amateur-built roadable aircraft, under development by Samson Motorworks of Meadow Vista, California. It was publicly introduced at AirVenture in 2009 in mock-up form. The aircraft is intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction initially and possibly as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuneec International EViva</span> Chinese motorglider

The Yuneec EViva is a Chinese low-wing, two-seat motor glider that was designed by Martin Wezel is now under development by Yuneec International of Kunshan, Jiangsu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electravia Electro Trike</span> French ultralight trike

The Electravia Electro Trike is a French electric ultralight trike, produced by Electravia of Alpes de Haute Provence. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

The Pipistrel WATTsUP is an electric aircraft proof-of-concept trainer design that was built in Slovenia by Pipistrel.

The Liaoning Ruixiang RX1E is a Chinese two-seat electric aircraft, designed by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy at Shenyang Aerospace University and manufactured by the Liaoning Ruixiang General Aviation Manufacture Company Limited of Shenyang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2</span> Type of aircraft

The Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 is a light electric aircraft designed and under development by Bye Aerospace of Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASA X-57 Maxwell</span> Cancelled experimental NASA electric aircraft

The NASA X-57 Maxwell was an experimental aircraft developed by NASA, intended to demonstrate technology to reduce fuel use, emissions, and noise. The first flight of the X-57 was scheduled to take place in 2023, but the program was cancelled due to problems with the propulsion system.

The Stratos 714 is an American very light jet aircraft under development by Stratos Aircraft of Redmond, Oregon. The project was announced in July 2008, a prototype first flew on 21 November 2016, although Stratos currently lacks the funding to complete type certification. Predominantly made of carbon composite, the single turbofan aircraft would seat four to six at 400 kn (740 km/h) over up to 1,500 nmi (2,800 km).

Bye Aerospace is an American aircraft manufacturer based in unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of electric aircraft, including unmanned aircraft for geospatial role and light aircraft for the flight training role. The company was founded by George E. Bye, who remains the CEO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipistrel Velis Electro</span> First type certified electric aircraft

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is a Slovenian light aircraft, designed and produced by Pipistrel of Ajdovščina. The aircraft was EASA CS-LSA fully electric type certified in June 2020 and it is intended primarily for the training aircraft role, particularly multiple successive take-off and landings at the airfield. The design is the first type certified electric aircraft and is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.

References

  1. Hanlon, Mike (June 2009). "The Yuneec E430 aims to be the world's first commercially available electric aircraft" . Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 85. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN   1368-485X
  3. 1 2 Yuneec International (2008). "E430 Specifications" . Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Grady, Mary (June 2009). "Electric Aviation Moves Forward" . Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  5. 1 2 Grady, Mary (July 2009). "Electric Flight Update: Flightstar Ultralight First Flight, Yuneec Starts U.S. Flight Testing" . Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  6. Pew, Glenn (July 2010). "AVweb Interviews Yuneec International's Clive Coote" . Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Grady, Mary (July 2009). "Yuneec Electric LSA Hopeful Debuts At AirVenture" . Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  8. 1 2 Yuneec International (July 2009). "E430 News" . Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  9. Federal Aviation Administration (June 2009). "FAA Registry N-Number Inquiry Results" . Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  10. 1 2 Sara Black (31 August 2010). "EAA AirVenture 2010: Rain on the Wittman Field runways can't dampen Oshkosh Fly-In enthusiasm". Composites World. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  11. Pew, Glenn (July 2010). "Yuneec: Electric Aircraft Are Here, Now" . Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  12. 1 2 Yuneec International (1 August 2010). "e430 News" . Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  13. Grady, Mary (27 June 2013). "New Company Will Market Yuneec Electric Aircraft". AVweb. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  14. GreenWing International (29 December 2013). "GreenWing International". Facebook . Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  15. Federal Aviation Administration (5 December 2012). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved 5 December 2012.