Aircraft

Air Race E unveils electric race plane at Dubai Airshow

Air Race E unveils electric race plane at Dubai Airshow
The first all-electric racer from Air Race E, the White Lightning built by Team Condor
The first all-electric racer from Air Race E, the White Lightning built by Team Condor
View 8 Images
The kind of action spectators can expect to see from the first Air Race E in la
1/8
The kind of action spectators can expect to see from the first Air Race E in late 2020
The first all-electric racer from Air Race E, the White Lightning built by Team Condor
2/8
The first all-electric racer from Air Race E, the White Lightning built by Team Condor
The White Lightning electric air racer made its debut at the Dubai Airshow
3/8
The White Lightning electric air racer made its debut at the Dubai Airshow
The White Lightning electric air racer should reach speeds of around 300 mph, for 5 minutes of full-tilt racing or 10 minutes of reduced power flying
4/8
The White Lightning electric air racer should reach speeds of around 300 mph, for 5 minutes of full-tilt racing or 10 minutes of reduced power flying
The inaugural Air Race E is due to take place on November 19, 2020, at an as-yet-unspecified location, but the circuit should look something like this
5/8
The inaugural Air Race E is due to take place on November 19, 2020, at an as-yet-unspecified location, but the circuit should look something like this
The White Lightning was built by Yorkshire-based Condor Aviation using a modified Cassutt single-seat racer
6/8
The White Lightning was built by Yorkshire-based Condor Aviation using a modified Cassutt single-seat racer
Maximum continuous power will be restricted to 150 kW in accordance with formula rules, but the e-plane is expected to reach speeds of around 300 mph
7/8
Maximum continuous power will be restricted to 150 kW in accordance with formula rules, but the e-plane is expected to reach speeds of around 300 mph
The White Lightning has a wingspan of 4.6 m, and measures 4 m long
8/8
The White Lightning has a wingspan of 4.6 m, and measures 4 m long
View gallery - 8 images

As we discovered when we visited the Reno Air Race in 2016, watching flyers go head-to-head, wing-to-wing around a fixed course is absolutely exhilarating. Airbus-backed Air Race E notes that the future of aviation is electric, and plans to stage the first all-electric air race in late 2020. Its first airplane was revealed on day one of the Dubai Airshow.

"This is a pivotal moment not only for Air Race E, but for the aviation industry as a whole," said international air racing promoter, and Air Race E CEO, Jeff Zaltman. "Our aim by establishing an electric racing series is to develop a unifying platform for the development of cleaner, faster and more technologically advanced electric aircraft. The racing series will provide a testbed for innovation and accelerate the journey towards electric commercial travel. We’ve now shown it is possible and are on track to again create history when planes like the one on display at the Dubai Airshow take to the skies for the race next year."

The covers were taken off the all-electric race plane at the stand of the racing series' official founding partner, Airbus, yesterday. It was built by Yorkshire-based Condor Aviation using a modified Cassutt single-seat racer, an aircraft that has formula air racing form dating back to 1979 and was a circuit regular during the 80s and 90s.

The White Lightning electric air racer made its debut at the Dubai Airshow
The White Lightning electric air racer made its debut at the Dubai Airshow

Named White Lightning, the heavily-modified flyer features a Contra Electric twin motor and contra-rotating props. Maximum continuous power will be restricted to 150 kW in accordance with formula rules, but the e-plane is expected to reach speeds of around 300 mph (over 480 km/h). Around 20 kWh of lithium batteries weighing 100 kg (220 lb) are installed under the fuselage, for 5 minutes of fast and furious fun per charge or 10 minutes of reduced power flying. The aircraft tips the scales at 375 kg (just over 820 lb), has a wingspan of 4.6 m (15 ft), and measures 4 m (13 ft) long.

A second electric air racer is currently nearing completion at the University of Nottingham's Aerospace Technology Centre, though no details on this aircraft have been released as yet.

Next year, Air Race E will announce the first eight teams for the inaugural electric air race, set to take place on November 19, 2020, at a location yet to be revealed. It is known that the e-planes will race against each other on a tight 5-km (3.1-mi) circuit, flying around 10 m (33 ft) above the ground.

Source: Air Race E

View gallery - 8 images
4 comments
4 comments
paul314
So that plane weighs a just little more than a fully-tricked out motorcycle?
Towerman
Wow... i need to see this in action !
christopher
The prop is on the wrong end, as usual. Accelerated air needs to go into a thin stream as per Bernoulli's theorem, but the fuselage is in the way.
seewind
i agree with christopher. canard pusher. better aero.