Sonex and AeroConversions E-Flight Initiative

April 2, 2008

A prototype AeroConversions E-Flight Electric Motor was first run in the fall of 2007 at low power using simple computerized commutation software. Since then, the prototype Hall effect sensing system for the motor has been built and tested, and the prototype E-Flight Electronic Motor Controller has been built and is currently being tested and refined. On March 17, 2008 the E-Flight Electric Motor was run for the first time under load, using a test club propeller, and for the first time using a rheostat throttle user interface with the prototype Controller (see video at right).

In the coming weeks, the E-Flight design team will pursue testing of the motor at significantly higher power settings using a bank of traditional lead-acid batteries to facilitate power for ground testing. Also, the test flight pack of Lithium Polymer batteries are due to arrive at Sonex Aircraft, LLC in the coming weeks for initial testing and integration into the proof-of-concept aircraft system.

John Monnett formally unveils the details of the E-Flight Initiative.

The AirVenture press corps swarms the E-Flight electric aircraft for a closer look.

The Sonex E-Flight R&D team presented an informational forum to a packed house on Wednesday.

The E-Flight electric powerplant FWF installation.

The Sonex E-Flight Initiative commanded top headlines in most relavent daily aviation publications and web sites. John Monnett spoke about the Initiative in several interviews throughout the week, including an appearance on EAA Radio (above, left) and two local television stations (above, right).

July 24, 2007

The Sonex Aircraft, LLC E-Flight Initiative was officially unveiled at a Tuesday, July 24 press conference held on AeroShell Square at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007. The unveiling included a proof-of-concept prototype electric powerplant installed in a Waiex airframe and the event was kicked-off with opening remarks by EAA President Tom Poberezny. During the press conference, Sonex Aircraft, LLC founder and President John Monnett announced the three major focuses of the E-Flight Initiative: Electric Power, Ethanol Fuels and Efficiency Enhancement technologies for existing and future Sonex and AeroConversions products. Sonex General Manager and CEO Jeremy Monnett uncowled the proof-of-concept electric-powered Waiex to the awe and excitement of the crowd and press representatives in attendance.

An informational E-Flight Initiative forum followed on Wednesday in the AirVenture Forums Plaza. The forum building was filled to standing-room-only capacity as John Monnett detailed the goals and challenges of the E-Flight Initiative. The proof-of-concept electric-powered Waiex and the E-Flight informational kiosk was moved from AeroShell Square to the Forums Plaza, where they were viewed by a steady stream of interested AirVenture attendees for the remainder of the show.

See the E-Flight Initiative Press Page for links to E-Flight press releases, more video clips and media coverage of the E-Flight Initiative.

In 2006 Sonex Aircraft, LLC’s research and development team began work on what is now called the “E-Flight Initiative.” E-Flight is a push to explore viable alternative energies for powering sport aircraft and improve the efficiency and performance of current products and technologies to keep aviation affordable for the average pilot, and to keep recreational aviation available to future generations of pilots. Although E-Flight has been shrouded in strict secrecy to ensure intellectual property protection of its more cutting-edge components, public unveiling of E-Flight at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 has been a vital key to the Initiative since it’s inception. E-Flight is not only intended as a “push” for the Sonex R&D team, but also to help push the rest of the recreational aviation industry toward similar goals in the interest of preserving the future of our sport.		The E-Flight Initiative has three major areas of focus, taking a diverse approach to the problems of rising energy costs and an ailing environment to provide near, intermediate and long-term green powerplant solutions:

		Development of a proof-of-concept electric motor powerplant, controller, battery pack and charging system with the goal of determining the feasibility of a marketable line of Sonex and AeroConversions products. This project represents the most significant portion of E-Flight, in terms of investment, risks, challenges, and possible gains.

		Investigation of converting the AeroConversions AeroVee powerplant for use of ethanol-based fuels in order to accomodate ethanol-blend auto fuel and/or pure ethanol to both increase performance and efficiency and to ensure that Sonex and AeroConversions products are prepared for the possible discontinuation of 100LL or similar aviation fuels.

		Development of other enhancements to the existing AeroVee and other existing and future AeroConversions products to increase fuel efficiency and performance for the sport pilot. These enhancements will be built upon an already strong foundation, as an AeroCarb equipped AeroVee powered Sonex aircraft already boasts a fuel economy of over 42 miles per gallon when cruising at 150 mph TAS.