First customer impressions about FES installed on LAK17B

25.8.2010

You can read first customer impressions about FES

FES on World Gliding Championship in Szeged

10.8.2010

Two FES equiped sailplanes LAK17A FES and LAK17B FES were taking part on WGC2010, in Szeged, Hungary. We managed to upgrade LAK17B with FES just before competition.

Actually this was first competition ever for the FES equiped sailplanes. Both gliders always came home in difficult weather conditions, thanks to FES system, which proved to be very suitable. Flying competition in marginal conditions is much less stressful with reliable FES engine.

This were the only two sailplanes with electric engines on this competition. Many people from all over the globe were impressed by FES solution.

Most frequently asked question was, how much effect FES has on glide performance of sailplane?

1. Pilot of new LAK17B FES, with max take off weight 600kg (58kg/sqm), claimed that he newer saw any difference in glide against Ventus 2cxa, ASG29 or JS1.

2. LAK17A FES has max take off weight only 500kg (wing loading 51kg/sqm). If another glider was at similar wing loading we were able to see that flight performance were very similar.

You can download and unzip this igc files to same directory and open multiple flights file (.mul) in SeeYou software and compare flight of "LZ" LAK17A which is equiped with FES, and "BO" Ventus 2cxM.  You can clearly see that they flew second half of the task close together with nearly no difference in performance. Both have about half of its water balast till last thermal, where both drop its ballast for better climb in weak 0.5m/s.

Slovenian gliding team WGC Szeged on Facebook!

800km FAI triangle with help of FES

igc file of flight

On 29.6.2010 weather forecast was very good, and I declared 750km FAI triangle. Take off was one hour later than planed. At first turn point Samaden I decided to go even further trough Maloja Pass and later I saw St. Morits beautiful lakes closer than I would like to. I lost one hour and I was quite late but anyway I decided to fly triangle. At second turn point thermals start dying earlier as expected and I was quite sure to land at St. Johan. However with FES I was able to jump into another valley and climb above mountain ridges where thermals were still active.  Finally I was able to climb high enough to glide over the Alps. On the way home I start FES for few minutes, to have safe final glide over the last 30km, otherwise would be very tight. 

Without FES I would not be able to climb above the ridge, and this flight would surely end on the other side of the Alps, and retrive would be very looong. I was still having more about half of energy available in batteries. 

You can check some photos from this very interesting flight in Photo menu.

Front Electric Sustainer on Facebook

If you like FES you can join us at FES on Facebook, where most recent news about FES and its development will be published! You are invited to write on the wall your comments.

New menus and FES instrumentt

New FES instrument is under development by LXNAV company. Instrument will fit into standard 57mm hole in instrument panel.

FES wins two 1st prizes

FES for new LAK17B sailplane!

FES on Aero 2010 - Friedrichshafen

First public presenation of FES was on Aero 2010 132 From 8 to 11 April.

Photos of new propeller blades which was also first time shown you can see under Photo menu.

Movie of FES show run from Aero is available under Video menu.

Maiden flight of FES

On October 30, 2009, the maiden flight of the Front Electric Sustainer - FES was performed by Luka Znidarsic in LZ , his high performance 18m class sailplane LAK17A. The climb rate at full power was more than 1,5 m/s, the noise level very low and there was practically no vibration. Stopping and folding the propeller proved very simple using an electronic brake.

We are more than satisfied with the results!