Electric Aircraft Outperforms Fossil-Fuel Planes in Precision Landing Competition
In a significant milestone for electric aviation, the Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft has won a precision landing competition against traditional fossil-fuel planes. The event, held by the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, required pilots to land on a specific mark. The electric plane's pilot, Mike Hales, attributed the victory to the superior control and instant torque provided by the electric motor. He noted the absence of idle thrust, a common challenge in gasoline-powered aircraft, allowed for greater accuracy. While electric aviation still faces hurdles like battery energy density for long-range flight, this win demonstrates its competitive advantage in specific flight disciplines.
Official Source: https://www.electronicdesign.com/blogs/nonlinearities/blog/55398835/electronic-design-electric-aircraft-just-outperformed-fossil-fuels-and-nobody-noticed
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