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

 

 

Csaba Lemak 

Canada

Electric Paramotor Efforts

Csaba built what most consider as the first practical electric powered paraglider that really got things going. He continues to work on it and updates will be added here as they come in.

Update
12/18/2007 by Jeff Goin

It appears that Csaba is no longer actively developing his electric paramotor as we have been unable to contact him for several months.

If that changes, we'll post it here.

Albuquerque Thrust Test
10/29/2006 by Jeff Goin

Csaba brought his creation to Albuquerque, NM but was, unfortunately, unable to fly it due to a mechanical problem. However, before that happened, we did do a thrust and weight test on it. The machine, with all of it's batteries, weighed 65 pounds and, at a density altitude of 5500 feet, it put out 93 pounds of thrust (about 105 pounds sea-level equivalent).

My impression: 

Although I wasn't able to fly the machine due to a mechanical glitch, I did build an initial impression. 

It was well balanced and comfortable. Like all Walkerjets, the harness must be cinched up tight to prevent the pilot's legs from hitting the frame bottom and to balance the weight higher on your back. In flight, the straps are loosened. The electric version puts the weight closer to your back so it is more comfortable than a typical Walkerjet.

One worry of this machine, like electric start models, is that throttling up could instantly produce deadly RPM even if the pilot was not expecting it. In order to reduce this risk, Csaba has devised an ingenious throttle arrangements To get power, it must first be switched on and it will not turn on unless the throttle is at idle. Then the pilot must activate the throttle three times before power will be available. 

Once the procedure has been done, then power is immediately available until the switch is turned off. So it's obviously critical for the pilot to remember to turn it off when he's done. He elected against a timeout feature since a pilot could be caught in flight and be unable to add power after a long soaring stint.

Power (prop spin-up) is immediate, more than any machine I've flown. The machine will cause a transient weight-shift turn during power up but this effect will likely be so brief as to not be objectionable.

Better Motor & Controller
10/13/2006 by Jeff Goin

Some new technologies have come to the attention of Csaba's attention as he continues towards a production capable paramotor. He is working with a professor from the Czech republic who is tasking his students with building some technologies (controller and motor) that will work well with a 47 inch propeller. He has been testing numerous props supplied by Richard of Helix propeller and has improved efficiency with one particular 47" model. 

www.rc-unionen.dk_nytforum_uploads_9302_2006918173952_Aspach 2006 1.JPG (54283 bytes)Mr. Lemak is also considering use of the RS-LRK-MOTEREN Outrunner motor about to be released in Germany which puts out 20 Kw (good for about 16 hp) at only 7 pounds of weight. Plus, he is looking at a battery technology from South Korea that has 70 amp hour batteries that, in a pack of 14, would power an 18 hp motor for 40 minutes of flight time at flight weight of 26 Kg (57 pounds). That is using his current technology electric paramotor.

He has been flying his electric machine consistently and wowed a local R/C club with its performance. This motor will be at the Albuquerque fly-in on Friday, Oct 6.

The best developments continue to come from the Radio Controlled airplane community although Csaba is working with others to solve some of our unique high-power requirements. The Lithium Polymer batteries that have taken over electric powered models have about twice the capacity at about half the weight of comparable NiCad or NiMH packs. 

He tells us of a group in Europe that is making an electric paramotor using a brushed golf cart motor that weighs about 7 Kg more than the one he is using but is more readily available. It uses the less expensive and heavier Lithium Ion batteries. We have no word on whether this machine has flown yet. If anyone has any information on that effort, please let us know.

Albuquerque, 2006

Below are some pictures with Csaba testing his electric powered paraglider on the thrust stand at Paramotor City.

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