https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2019-11-17/electric-airplane-new-air-racing-series-unveiled
DUBAI AIRSHOW
AEROSPACE
Electric Airplane for New Air Racing Series Unveiled
by James Wynbrandt
- November 17, 2019, 1:14 AM
Air Race E
Air Race E founder and CEO Jeff Zaltman revealed the electric air
racer, supported by Sandra Bour Schaeffer and Martyn Wiseman, head of
Team Condor.
Air Race E, the world�s first electric air racing series, unveiled at
the Dubai Airshow a prototype of the electric-powered aircraft set to
be flown in the league�s inaugural race, scheduled for late 2020. A
highly modified Cassutt formula one racer, the aircraft features Contra-Electric�s twin motor contra-rotating propeller powertrain,
providing continuous electric power.
The showing marks �the first time we have let anyone outside of our
teams and partners under the hood of a race airplane to showcase some
of the cutting-edge electric technology that will be in use during the
series,� said Air Race E CEO and founder Jeff Zaltman.
The races, supported by founding partner Airbus (Stand 940; Pavilion
P10), will comprise a series of head-to-head international contests,
with eight airplanes flying simultaneously on a 5-km circuit at
heights as low as 10 meters (33 feet) and speeds up to 450 mph.
Like motorsports, �It does have an inherent danger to it, so our top
priority at all times is safety,� said Zaltman.
A tender for the first host city is underway, with the winning
location to be named by December, according to organizers.
�Electrification is the enabler to decarbonize our industry,� said
Sandra Bour Schaeffer, head of Airbus Group Demonstrators. The company
believes that �Nurturing these race aircraft will help build up an
ecosystem� to bring wider adoption of electrification in aviation, she
said.
Eight international racing teams, with strong representation from
North America and Europe, will compete in the race series; the
electric race aircraft on display was built by the UK�s Condor
Aviation, one of the teams.
The UK-based Light Aircraft Association is supporting development of
the sport�s technical regulations as well as aircraft design
oversight, and the league expects to receive sanctioning by the
Formula Air Racing Association and French counterpart, the Association
des Pilotes D�Avions de Formules, �soon.�
AIRCRAFT
ENGINES
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