The Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 2 is an American electric light aircraft designed and under development by Bye Aerospace of Denver, Colorado. The design was originally developed by Bye Aerospace subsidiary, the Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation, but the two companies merged in 2018 and Bye Aerospace took over the project.
The Sun Flyer 2 was first publicly introduced at the Centennial Airport in Colorado on 11 May 2016 and it first flew on 10 April 2018. The aircraft is intended to be certified under FAR 23 and supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
Video Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 2
Design and development
The aircraft has been designed specifically for the flight training market and will have a 3.5 hour duration. Arion Aircraft of Shelbyville, Tennessee constructed the proof-of-concept prototype and delivered it in March 2016.
The Sun Flyer 2 features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed open cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single electric motor in tractor configuration, powered by up to six Lithium-ion battery packs.
The aircraft is made from composite material, primarily carbon fibre. The cockpit employs an iPad used for cockpit instrumentation display, including motor, battery and aircraft systems. The aircraft connects to Redbird Flight Simulations' Sidekick system, which wirelessly tracks the Sun Flyer's engine, flight time, physical location and attitude in real time when in flight.
The aircraft has a gross weight of 1,900 lb (860 kg). The take-off noise profile is expected to be lower than conventional piston-engine powered training aircraft, such as the Cessna 172.
Ground and taxi tests on the prototype were started in November 2016 and the aircraft first flew on 10 April 2018.
A four seater derivative model, named the Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 4, was later announced in July 2017. It will be a day/night IFR aircraft with an 800-pound payload, capable of 150-knot maximum cruise speed and a 4.2 hour endurance.
Maps Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 2
Operational history
By March 2018 one example, the prototype, had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.
By March 2018 the company had 105 deposits for the Sun Flyer 2 and 16 deposits for the larger Sun Flyer 4.
Operators
The following organizations have ordered the aircraft:
- Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology - 25
Specifications (Sun Flyer 2)
Data from AVweb and manufacturer
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 38 ft (12 m)
- Wing area: 129 sq ft (12.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,460 lb (662 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,900 lb (862 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × electric motor with up to six lithium-ion battery packs, 110 hp (80 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 kn (155 mph; 250 km/h)
- Endurance: 3.5 hours
- Maximum glide ratio: 20.6:1
- Rate of climb: 1,050 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Pipistrel Alpha Electro
- Liaoning Ruixiang RX1E
- Yuneec International E430
- Related lists
- List of electric aircraft
References
External links
- Official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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