Electric Alatus

An electric version of the Alatus, known as the Alatus-ME, is currently under development by a French firm called Electravia working in partnership with Randkar, the French distributor for the Alatus-M. The motor delivers 26 hp and is powered by a Lithium-Polymer battery. The first test flights took place on 10th and 11th of January 2009 from Sisteron-Vaumeilh airfield, in the Alpes de Haute Provence region of France.

Electravia are claiming a flight endurance of 1 hour and 7 minutes in calm weather. Note that this is not the engine endurance. At 26hp, the engine should be able to climb at around 500fpm, since that is 2hp more than the standard CorsAir engine. The altitude gain on the electric engine is 2100 metres, or about 6900 feet, which equates to less than 14 minutes of climbing. However at a sink rate of 130fpm, it would take around 53 minutes to descend for a total flight endurance of 1 hour and 7 minutes.

This development is definitely worth watching!

For more information the Alatus-ME, visit the Electravia website