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Test pilot Dave
Morss in the cockpit of the e430, surrounded by Yuneec officials. |
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The e430 in flight
over Camarillo Airport, California. |
Yuneec International, maker of the e430
electric-powered aircraft, reports that flight-testing on the airplane is
under way in Camarillo, California, as the company seeks experimental
exhibition certification before next week's AirVenture Oshkosh. On Sunday,
July 19, runway tests were completed followed by two test flights.
"We have more than satisfied all the FAA
concerns regarding batteries and charging - they were concerned about
out-of-balance batteries," wrote Clive Coote, Yuneec managing
director, in an e-mail to EAA.
Coote supplied the following report after the
first two test flights:
Two flights totaling nearly two hours were
completed successfully on Sunday, July 19. The e430 reached an altitude of
more than 3,000 feet with a climb out rate of at 950 fpm. Test pilot Dave
Morss (EAA 133735) put the e430 through all the basic flight test
maneuvers and said he was very pleased with the way the E430 handled - so
much that he really enjoyed the second flight.
From Sunday's initial assessment, Yuneec
reports the aircraft has no vices, a soft stall, and it seems that the
glide ratio might be higher than expected, as Morss said he had to go
around again to lose sufficient height in order to join the circuit -
"Even turning off the motor and full airbrake were not enough,"
Yuneec stated.
Flight tests will continue through today and
Tuesday, July 21, after which it is hoped that the Designated
Airworthiness Representative will sign off the E430 before it starts its
long journey to Oshkosh.
The aircraft made two flights lasting about
15 minutes each about a month
ago in China.
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