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![Chip Yates sets electric airplane speed record, lives to tell tale [w/video]](/__cache/a9cde0d5ce2942e345d3e5f1379397b0.jpg "Chip Yates sets electric airplane speed record, lives to tell tale [w/video]")
Chip Yates sets electric airplane speed record, lives to tell tale [w/video]
Published 21.07.2012.
Because he's quick like that. And lucky.
Chip Yates has, in a few short months, converted a Burt Rutan-designed Long-EZ airplane to battery power and, at the same time, undergone all the flight training necessary to get his pilot's license. On Wednesday, he took his renamed Long-ESA (Electric Speed & Altitude) on its maiden voyage. On Thursday, he took to the skies above Inyokern Airport for the second time and set an unofficial speed record of 202.6 miles per hour. It might have been his last flight. Ever.
To save time, Yates installed the same battery pack that have been in his record-setting electric motorcycle last year. During its last bit of heavy usage on the Bonneville Salt Flats, it had begun to shows signs of significant voltage sag under throttle. In fact, it couldn't put out anywhere near the 250 horsepower the UQM motor could have handled. Still, compact, with just under 12-kWh worth of energy storage, it fit nicely into the plane and it seemed robust enough for some early test flights. Emphasis on "seemed." (More below.)
Continue reading Chip Yates sets electric airplane speed record, lives to tell tale [w/video]
Read full article at: green.autoblog.com
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