The E-Beaver hopped yesterday and flew today.
https://www.skiesmag.com/news/harbour-air-makes-history-with-electric-powered-beaver-flight/
https://www.geekwire.com/2019/harbour-airs-electric-seaplane-makes-first-flight-sparking-quiet-buzz-b-c/
https://fortune.com/2019/12/10/electric-powered-commercial-airplane-makes-history/
https://www.magnix.aero/

Now all they need are some really long extension cords. https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Vinyl-Outdoor-Electric-Extension/dp/B00OS7ELK6/ref=sr_1_5?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9Z3f6YWs5gIVlqDsCh2sKwb3EAAYASAAEgJ0ePD_BwE&hvadid=174261758061&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9032188&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2267205161701607902&hvtargid=kwd-8004406247&hydadcr=8435_9618948&keywords=long+extension+cord&qid=1576014052&sr=8-5

I think it is pretty neat----got to start somewhere and batteries might keep getting better. Could still hear the prop. Doubt I live long enough for a totally quiet 180.

I agree it's neat. I hope I'll live to see it, along with commercial fusion power, but am not that optimistic. The periodic table is pretty stubborn when it comes to battery technology.

I had read that there is a 3% gain per year in battery tech. Might be awhile, who knows what else will be learned while it’s going on. Exciting stuff.

Aesthetically, I think they did a great job in the cowling design and preserving the round tail.

I find the prospect of electric drive neat, because whatever your feelings on fossil fuels, etc, electric is like the great equalizer. Quite a few ways to make it, from solar to diesel to donkey going around the mill wheel.

But yeah...battery tech.

Lithium-Air, when it becomes commercially feasible, is in current thinking as far as batteries will EVER go. The equivalent energy density of gas which is the highest energy density there is (not accounting for nuclear I suppose). Of course once Lithium-Air is in use we will all die of asphyxiation shortly after. But enjoy it while you can!

On a side note I had a BMW i8 for a while (their Super Car). It was a hybrid and very fast and super sexy. But it was super quiet which is a bad thing for wild life. I hit a deer at about 15mph on an unlit road because it couldn't hear me coming. looked to me like I got away damage free except for a single dimple (like hail makes) from its antlers. Months later when I took the car in to get the dimple popped out they found $25,000 worth of damage that was un-noticeable to the amateur eye. After getting that fixed I was paranoid to drive it for fear of hitting more wildlife that couldn't hear me. So I sold it. Guess it would be okay in the city cause not much wildlife to hit- just people-and most of them need removing anyway.

Sure glad I've got an 88" on my Wagon. Not much chance of wildlife not knowing I'm coming.

Blasphemy.

As a plug in Prius daily driver, and owner/rider of three different e bikes, and a long time user of renewable energy, this is a neat concept, but that's all it is, a fun bit of engineering and promotion. Long ago ( I haven't paid a power bill in a bit over 40 years, first totally off grid, now on grid on my new property, where I do pay a 5 buck a month hookup fee but still produce in excess of my consumption on an annual basis, so no KWH charges) I for the first time realized the actual kinetic energy in a gallon of gas. When it is the middle of the winter, scratch that, THIS time of the year, the START of the winter, it is the hardest time to be off grid. Short days, crap weather/no sun, not much wind. So, the backup Honda generator, used to recharge my large battery bank, was a godsend, and it was amazing what a single gallon of good old gasoline would do for my quality of life! Weird I guess, and unexpected to some, but when I hear greenies talk about going "all solar", like it's totally obvious and no big deal, I cringe. And I can guarantee they have never lived off grid. We're not getting away from oil in my or anyone's reading this lifetime.

If you have never read "The Prize", by Daniel Yergin, do so. It will scare the hell out of you and also make the next fillup easier, as you fully appreciate what a gallon of gas can really do, and what a bargain it is. Bought a gallon of milk lately! An all electric Beaver sounds great, pun intended (actually I too prefer the rotary engine noise) but it is a pipe dream for the time being.

Pinecone wrote:Blasphemy.

yeah its neat it but damn couldn't they have started with a 172 or something and not a masterpiece with numbers suffering from attrition each year?

I'd like to know the range and useful load.... or lack of it... but that's secret. Not to be overshadowed by the fact that an electric Beaver flew....

Doesn't float my boat. My goal in life is to convert dead dinosaurs into noise. Whether it's the 88" prop or the H-D w/ thunder headers. I hope they didn't hack up a perfectly good airframe and the music of the R985 can be restored at some point.

frstnflt wrote:

Pinecone wrote:Blasphemy.

yeah its neat it but damn couldn't they have started with a 172 or something and not a masterpiece with numbers suffering from attrition each year?

The beaver really isn’t suffering from attrition, of the 1692 original airplanes built there are still more than 1000 flying. Even wrecks that are totally written off by the insurance company can and will be resurrected in short order.

As a person who has dedicated 20 years of my adult life to keeping beavers flying I applaud the folks at Harbor Air, very cool project. With a 40 minute range and 800 pound useful load it’s little more than a proof of concept but it’s a start.

I’m also a fan of the P&W R985, some of the finest 1500 hours of flying in my career. But let’s face it, that engine was first certified in 1929 and ceased production in 1953, how many years can a commercial floatplane operator use these machines safely? I know of engine cases that have been thru the overhaul shop more than 25 times, all good things must someday come to an end! Compound these thoughts with the litigious nature of the flying public and you can see the motivation for working towards a long term solution.

I agree with Zane that they did a very nice job with the form factor, could’ve been pretty ugly. All it’s going to take is a lightweight battery option and they’re off to the races!

As an admittedly selfish person, I love the fact that someone's out there researching and developing E-wings, while I can still enjoy both the R, and the T-versions of them
What a cool airplane, as long as it's someone else's until it's ready for prime time... till then, make mine a -34 powered version

WWII produced so many round engines that they were thrown out and replaced with new surplus for awhile in the Delta. Mechanics later recovered them, however. Crop dusters are moving to turbo-prop. Supply and demand.

"The Prize" explains why oil companies act more like small countries than big businesses. Governments negotiated rather than regulated. If upgrades came too fast thus making older refineries unprofitable, they shut them down and later paid for the upgrades with the resultant higher price via supply and demand. Remember the 70s. That may change as new sources compete on the supply side.

Military and Ag demand for diesel fuel has nearly ended hillbilly independent trucking. Nuclear steam turbine is a lot more efficient, but a little too heavy.

Halestorm wrote:…..All it’s going to take is a lightweight battery option and they’re off to the races!

Paging EarthX, paging EarthX….

No need for this at this time.

There is plenty of fuel available for the foreseeable future and this is unproven technology.

30 minutes? would you take off in your 172 with 3.5 gallons in the tank? How is that a good idea?

Add in the BC climate. Possible poor weather, icing, diversions, and the fact that batteries perform poorly at low temperatures.

Also, why would anyone want to neuter such an iconic aircraft as a Beaver? Especially since its essentially a national symbol for Canada? It would be like a 4 cylinder Corvette in America.

Look at electric cars. Still primitive in development with poor range and high environmental impact and poor quality of production issues. It is true some of them can accelerate well but they lag far behind advanced ICE vehicles in so many areas.

I would not mind ditching out current 1930’s piston engine powerplants in favor of more modern ones with digital automatic fuel injection, electronic ignition etc. but the day for electric being needed or viable is far in the future, hopefully after my need for this rock is over.

Add a few zeros to engine tbo and the denominator of the engine failure rate. Subtract a few from fuel energy density.

Mountain Doctor wrote:No need for this at this time.

Rumor has it that's what B.D. Maule said about their tricycle model.

But some people are into it, you know?

Zzz wrote:

Mountain Doctor wrote:No need for this at this time.

Rumor has it that's what B.D. Maule said about their tricycle model.

But some people are into it, you know?

That was just too funny!
Thanks for the morning laugh Zane!