Sun Flyer | |
---|---|
Role | Amateur-built aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Bye Aerospace |
Designer | Calin Gologan |
Status | Experimental prototype only (2015) |
Number built | one |
The Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer (also previously known as the Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation Sun Flyer) is an electric aircraft that was developed from the PC-Aero Elektra One by Bye Aerospace's Aero Electric Aircraft Corporation division of Denver, Colorado, United States, introduced in 2015. The company had a license agreement and engineering contract for the design with Calin Gologan, the Elektra One's designer.[1][2]
The aircraft features composite construction, a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat, enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single electric motor in tractor configuration.[1][2]
The Sun Flyer differed from the PC-Aero Elektra One by incorporating new landing gear, propeller and instruments. It provided a prototype for a proposed two-seater that was to have four Panasonic lithium-ion batteries, along with solar panels installed on the wings, horizontal tail and on the fuselage behind the canopy. This two-seater was intended to be certified for day and night Visual Flight Rules. The proposed two-seat version of the Sun Flyer eventually led to a new design, the Bye Aerospace Sun Flyer 2 instead.[1]
The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology had reserved the first 20 two-seat models that were to be produced.[3]
Data from Aviation Week and Aviation Pros[1][2]
General characteristics
Performance