Chip Yates Officially Breaks Electric Airplane Speed Record

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles)
07/25/2014 at 15:00 • Filed to: planelopnik, chip yates, Mad props

Yates, who is best known for his "two wheels good" antics by creating and racing electric superbikes, has now officially upped the ante by building and flying his one-off electric airplane past 5 world records.

Chip Yates poses with his record breaking "Long-ESA"

His SWIGZ.COM electric motorcycle is on display at the Petersen Automotive museum and is known as the worlds most powerful electric superbike. But Yates has set his goal even higher and is preparing to add a non-stop trans-atlantic flight in his electrically powered modified Burt Rutan Long-EZ, name Long-ESA, for "Electric Speed and Altitude"

The original airframe used by Yates is based off the venerable Long-EZ which was designed by Burt Rutan back in the 1970's. You might recognized some of Rutan's creations like the Beech Starship, and SpaceShip One among others. Yates took the canard style composite airframe and added huge batteries and a huge DC brushless motor and can now fly very fast for about 15 minutes. In fact the powerplant is capable of propelling the aircraft to speeds beyond its structural limits and in essence making this vehicle the ultimate hill climb aircraft. Yates was just officially awarded 5 world records from a series of flights late last year including time to climb to 3,000 meter in an electric airplane.

Yates landing dead stick during one of his record breaking runs after he loses power and becomes a glider pilot.

Yate's next lofty goal is creating a custom electric airplane that he intends to fly along Charles Lindbergh's 3,600 mile transatlantic route. He's currently in the testing phases of in-flight aerial re-charging using a nose mounted recharging port while flying in close formation with another aircraft equipped with an onboard battery pack.

Restored and modifies Piper Cherokee will ask as the mid-air recharge plane.

This proof of concept will be the basis for the patented series of 5 unmanned mid-air recharging station to power his flight en route to meet or exceed Lindberg's average speed on his " !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! " across the Atlantic ocean.

Many of you are probably thinking, "So what? An electric airplane is about as practical as high heals on a hike." And I'd have to agree with you because about the most use you can get out of a battery powered airplane is breaking world records, but with all developing technologies there is the hope of breakthroughs that will pave the way for real advances for practical uses. If anything, I give the guy credit for risking his life to do something new and go really fast.

DISCUSSION (24)

Cebu > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 13:01

AWESOME!

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 13:24

With an avg speed of 201 mph (174kt) it's still 25kt below Vne (the EZ's never exceed speed). Why the disparity?

Chris Clarke > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 13:37

using far less than full throttle, achieved a top speed of 202.6 MPH in level flight

I believe it has the capability to go much faster.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 13:46

Ah, didn't hit that link. Was looking at the blog posts below on his page. At any rate he'd have to exceed 230mph (200kt) to reach Vne. Not sure I'd want to play test pilot here..

Chris Clarke > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 13:51

Yeah, I don't think that's his mission either. Think he's building momentum for the trans-Atlantic flight.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 14:12

Cool story though. There are two EZs at my home 'drome, and I've always been tempted to introduce myself to the owners and ask for a ride. Neat airplane.

Chris Clarke > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 14:20

I haven't seen one outside of Oshkosh in years. It looks like a blast to fly.

Jayhawk Jake > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 14:48

A wise person once said "You've gotta start somewhere".

Sure, it's impractical now, but someday it might not be. Only way to get there is to use the technology to spur innovation.

KillerRaccoon - Group J's Sébastien Loeb > Jayhawk Jake
07/25/2014 at 18:31

I feel like electric planed are now what EVs were 10 years ago. Haters gonna hate, it's a fact of life and progress.

BrianAndKT > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 18:32

You should ask! Most EZ pilots get a kick out of showing off their work. With the RVs taking over the homebuilt scene, we'll be seeing fewer and fewer Long/Vari EZs.

BrianAndKT > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 18:32

You should ask! Most EZ pilots get a kick out of showing off their work. With the RVs taking over the homebuilt scene, we'll be seeing fewer and fewer Long/Vari EZs.

BrianAndKT > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/25/2014 at 18:32

You should ask! Most EZ pilots get a kick out of showing off their work. With the RVs taking over the homebuilt scene, we'll be seeing fewer and fewer Long/Vari EZs.

zipfuel > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 20:00

Rutan FTW!! (I have a starship as my desktop atm)

digdug > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 20:48

I've got a Long EZ and it's the closest thing to flying a fighter with the throttle in your left hand, stick in your right and no propeller in front of you.

I know a ton of EZ pilots and they would love to share their interests with you. Just go up and introduce yourself!

digdug > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 20:48

I've got a Long EZ and it's the closest thing to flying a fighter with the throttle in your left hand, stick in your right and no propeller in front of you.

I know a ton of EZ pilots and they would love to share their interests with you. Just go up and introduce yourself!

Sharkbiscuit > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 21:27

I think it's great, we live near a sky diving and tourist flight place. Short flights are what they do!

Martha P. Singleton > Chris Clarke
07/25/2014 at 21:40

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week on laptop. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

This is what I do,,,,,,,,,,, www.jobs700.com

will_kern > Jayhawk Jake
07/25/2014 at 23:56

Elon Musk was just on Colbert and he mentioned something about VTOL electric supersonic jets... I want to believe

Jayhawk Jake > will_kern
07/25/2014 at 23:57

Not going to happen for a long time...if ever

will_kern > Jayhawk Jake
07/26/2014 at 00:01

I figured. I am a realist after all... Musk on the other hand is a futurist and somehow his ideas generally work

Ben > Chris Clarke
07/26/2014 at 03:21

Kinja'd!!!

Is that a woman's play toy?

PoweringImagination > Chris Clarke
07/26/2014 at 09:25

"Many of you are probably thinking, "So what? An electric airplane is about as practical as high heals on a hike." And I'd have to agree with you... "

For larger transport aircraft, practical electric power is a ways down the road. For light recreational aircraft (LSA/motorglider) or flight training, you can get a useful amount of endurance and range with current battery technologies, and the cost of "fueling" the plane is significantly lower even when the cost of overhauling the battery pack is factored in.

Also, it is way quieter and smoother flying an electric plane than a gas powered one (from personal experience). There is no comparison, even with gliders (which I have also flown).

Chris Clarke > PoweringImagination
07/26/2014 at 11:02

You've flown an electric plane? Will you be at Oshkosh, I'd love to talk with you.

CPT Speedbump > Chris Clarke
07/26/2014 at 13:16

Would of been faster if he'd used a Berkut