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Details on the effort:
Parawatt
Flytec eDrive
Yuneec International
Werner Eck
Elektro
Neil Andrews ePPG
Csaba Lemak
Helix
Fresh Breeze
Razeebuss
EFS, Ltd.
Ernie Van Drongelen
Skynch
Yuneec
International, Ltd.
China
Electric Paramotor Efforts
website as of
2010-Sept-02:
yuneeccouk.site.securepod.com/paramotor.html
Electric Paramotor & Airplane Software Testing
Mar 27, 2010
After some
months of silence we got the latest from Yuneec's Clive Coote. Indeed lots is
happening and they continue to work and tweak and show but do not yet have a
firm delivery date.
Clive reports
that slow down is their efforts to improve the software that runs the battery
charge/discharge logic but good progress is being made.
They are
preparing for the Aero 2010 air show in Friedrichshafen, Germany (late March,
2010).
Improvements
have been made to various parts including the spinner, riser offset, access
holes to assist production and others.
Clive added that
"development of the software - which has to done in combination with the
aircraft so they are compatible - and the testing has taken longer than expected
and so delayed the release again."
Their gear is
flying, too, gaining experience in various of places. That German "Aero" show
will have their e430 airplane and five of the latest ePAC electric paramotor
units to sell/exchange for the Beta testers in Europe.
There are production units waiting in Shanghai for new updates and minor changes
and they hope to be deliver by July 2010. At least eight of the ePACs are being
flown constantly in Europe and China.
In Europe Michel Carnet has an E-PAC and has been flying constantly as has
Sylvain Moisseron in France and Adi Geisegger in Germany/Austria who has been
using it for aerial photos
http://www.parafoto.at.
Stay tuned.
Missed in CA and Updating Website
Feb 12, 2009
We missed seeing
Yuneec at the CA Paratoys or Phoenix fly-ins this year. They have made a number
of improvements to their machine and didn't have enough time to get the two
prototypes shipped. One new feature includes an altitude hold function of the
throttle. Hopefully we'll get to test fly it soon.
They sent us
casual pictures of the machine and it looks very high end; a carbon fiber
masterpiece. The cage has large openings so pilots would have to be extremely
careful of getting a hand in the prop but then the vast majority of hand strike
accidents occur during starting. Starting this is similar to turning on a fan.
We've been promised publishable pictures within two weeks.
Coming to CA and Updating Website
Jan 13, 2009
There have been
a number of improvements to the Yuneec E-Pac and it will be shown and flown at
the Paratoys Salton Sea event in CA. I (Jeff Goin) hope to fly the latest and
compare it with their earlier prototype, flown in April.
Yuneec has also
updated their
website
with some more current information.
Letting the Press and others try it out
Apr 10, 2008
The Yuneec
pre-production prototype has now flown in the U.S. Not just once, either. Three
pilots have tried it so far and, with one more morning to go, others may get to
try it. See the review on
www.footflyer.com.
There will be
full coverage of the machine in UltraFlight and Paramotor magazines.
On Sale This Summer
Mar 24, 2008
from Press Release and Email
A lot has been
happening with this company and they're clearly getting closer. The "Getting
Closer" pictures show a frame that's close but still not the final look. They've
been testing and refining various elements, including production processes, in
hopes of a summer launch. Like any completely new product, there are hurdles to
overcome and they don't want to introduce something half-ready. Thus the flight
testing and tweaking.
Gilo's (Parajet
designer) flare for the attractive is apparent so it should be, among other
things, a very good looking machine.
Hopefully I'll
test fly it within the next couple months and get a review up on FootFlyer.com.
Although there is no race, per se, it does appear that Yuneec and Werner Eck
will debut a retail version about the same time.
It's good to
see. We may indeed be months away from being able to buy the first production
electric paramotor.
Video of Prototype
Dec 23, 2007 edited by
ElectricPPG.com
Yuneec sent us
high-res video of their prototype flying in Shanghai. He emphasizes that the
production model has a different frame and body. It is smaller than the one
pictured at right.
Throttle design
is a trigger style similar to the DK throttle and some others.
They continue to
test fly the production prototype and are course to have a completed machine for
us to test fly by April, 2008. We'll obviously have pictures and a flight test
report when that happens.
Here is an
edited version of the video showing the craft being flown by Mr. Zhang Ke. (2.3
Mg Nov2007_yuneec.wmv).
Press Release
Dec 11, 2007 by
Clive M. Coote
Saturday 8th
December Shanghai - Yuneec’s E-PAC flies for 40.63 minutes.
On Saturday 7th
December 2007 one of Yuneec’s E-PAC prototype test units took to the skies for
40 minutes of electric powered paramotor flight believed to be one of the
longest electric parawing flights to date. After the flight the E-PAC unit,
which was using 12 battery packs (60A), still recorded 54v under load, 40%
capacity remaining.
Flight Data:
Pilot: Mr. Zhang Ke
Weather: Sunny, 7~12℃
Wing: 27 Square Meter
E-Pack Weight: 33Kg (with 12 Packs)
Battery Pack Wt: 20Kg
Pilot weight: 75Kg.
Battery No. / Capacity: 12 Packs 60AH
Tested
Airspeed: 34 km/h
The flight was part of Yuneec’s ongoing E-PAC test program. Daily ground testing
and regular flight testing have been going on throughout the summer after the
motor and speed controller specifications and design were finalized. Having all
the development and production of electronics, software, motor and ancillary
parts for E-PAC under one roof at Yuneec’s new factory in Shanghai means that
constant running changes can be made to the designs to improve efficiency and
ensure total reliability of operation.
The E-PAC testing program will continue with longer
and longer flights during the early part of 2008 prior to production in spring
2008.
For further information on specification please see
the separate specification sheet.
Production Prototype
Announced - Press Release
Oct 11, 2007 by
Clive M. Coote
Since the last
information release much has been going on at Yuneec. In late July we were
pleased to welcome to our Shanghai facility the now ‘World Famous’ Gilo Cardozo
of Parajet UK who had recently flown over Everest in a PPG with his colleague
Bear Grylls.
Gilo who is
consulting to Yuneec on the design of its electric paramotor flew in for a
couple of days to see the progress on motors and speed controller units as well
as to ‘Fly Electric’ for the first time.
Unfortunately
due to bad weather - Yes, wind and rain in Shanghai!! - Gilo was only able to
fly on the last day of his visit but took to the air confidently with the
standard reduction drive electric test unit and flew around happily for 25mins
before landing.
Gilo commented
afterwards that the speed control of the electric unit was incredibly smooth and
that he really liked the progressiveness of the throttle which was far better
than any other paramotor he had ever flown. He said he could not wait to start
testing the production prototypes expected late November.
During his visit
Gilo was able to see the design and prototype office as well as the current
production facilities. Gilo said he was impressed by the strength of Yuneec’s
hi-tech R&D capabilities and also the staff who were all 100% dedicated to the
success of the EPPM project.
Since July Gilo
and Yuneec’s UK managing Director Clive Coote have visited the Yuneec Shanghai
facility several more times and their last visit in October gave Gilo once again
the chance to see and fly the latest motor and speed controller samples.
Although the
early initial test flights were done with a reduction unit Yuneec has been
working on its own ‘Direct Drive’ motor and after much testing it is this motor
that will be used in the Yuneec EPPM. The new Yuneec system features a sensored
‘Direct Drive’ motor producing 50Kg+ of thrust via a 1.25m prop. Batteries will
be Li-Po. More precise technical info will follow shortly.
Test flights
were done with a new frame (see photos) which featured a cooling system for the
motor and speed controller. This frame is only for testing and info on the new
revolutionary ‘space age’ frame for Yuneec’s EPPM, which has been designed by
Gilo, will be released before Xmas.
After testing
Gilo commented how powerful and smooth the direct drive electric unit was and
that he looked forward to putting the new frame, production motor and speed
controller units through their paces late November.
Production is
still on target for spring ’08 and Yuneec looks forward to releasing more
detailed information on the EPPG site shortly.
Further
information, as it becomes available, on the Yuneec paramotor can be requested
by emailing Yuneec’s European Managing Director Mr. Clive Coote at clivecoote@yuneec.co.uk
or calling on 01707 664111 (Office hours)
More
Questions Answered
06/16/2007 by
Jeff Goin
What is that in
his right hand? I asked. Turns out that it's a remote control unit for a radio
controlled car that is serving as the throttle. It's certainly not going to be
the final product but is a concept they're testing. Mr. Coote didn't say whether
the remote throttle concept would end up as part of the plan but they appear to
be leaving few stones unturned.
Timeline
June 15, 2007 by
Jeff Goin
Mr. Clive Coote
has informed us that they expect to be in full production of this craft by the
first few months of 2008.
Questions Answered
June 11, 2007 by
Jeff Goin
We had some
questions and Clive Coote explained that they are testing numerous combinations
of motors, redrives and battery types but would rather not give details just
yet. They are planning on issuing some hard data soon. Mr. Coote, who is based
in Europe, will be in China during late June and July so hopefully we'll get
more by then.
He did offer that
the weight of the two pilots was between 190 and 200 lbs (85-90Kg) with 6 foot
tall Mr. Tian YU being the heavier one. He also is willing to answer other
inquiries at
clivecoote@yuneec.co.uk. We will
bring updates when they become available.
Press Release
06/10/2007 by
Clive M. Coote (release date May 25, 2007)
A New Player
enters the Electric Paramotor arena – Yuneec International Ltd.
On the 15th May 2007, following 6 months of intensive design and development
Yuneec International Ltd flew a prototype of their new electric paramotor unit
in Shanghai for the first time.
After an initial
10 minute test flight, the unit was then flown with the same battery for a
further 22 mins in the hands of Mr. Zhang, one of China’s top paramotor pilots
who consults for Yuneec. An enthusiastic Mr. Zhang said the unit had plenty of
take off power and was amazingly smooth and responsive in flight.
After a quick
battery change Yuneec’s chairman, Mr. Tian Yu, a novice pilot who had only had
only previously had one short petrol motor powered paraflight then took to the
air with his own product. After a 10 minute electric flight Mr. Yu was thrilled
with the motor pack saying that he had never thought the unit would be so light
(unit weighs only 22Kg) and easy to use, especially for a beginner like himself.
“This will open
up paramotoring to a much wider audience as well as offering existing paraglider
pilots another quieter, more environmentally acceptable method of propulsion”
said Mr. Yu.
Yuneec’s new ‘all
in one’ factory in Shanghai which encompasses everything from design to mould
making, motor winding, PCB and electronic assembly will produce the paramotor
unit. Mass production is expected to start early 2008 after further extensive
testing during this summer. Pricing has yet to be advised.
For further
information, as it becomes available, on the Yuneec paramotor please contact
Yuneec’s European Managing Director Mr. Clive Coote at
clivecoote@yuneec.co.uk
Tel) +44 (0) 1707
664 111
Fax) +44 (0) 1707
665 444 |
