Electric Motors for Aircraft

[rkirk77]

Where can I pickup a kit to convert a J-3 with a C-65 to an electric powered aircraft?
I've seen that there are a few new aircraft with them built-in and wanted to see if I can do it with a cub.. so where do I start?

[martymayes]

Where can I pickup a kit to convert a J-3 with a C-65 to an electric powered aircraft?
I've seen that there are a few new aircraft with them built-in and wanted to see if I can do it with a cub.. so where do I start?

Not aware of any such kit.

[CHICAGORANDY]

"

so where do I start?"

The glib answer would of course be - "With a dump-truck full of money."

[thisadviceisworthles]

At this point, there are not many "kits" and no STCs. So if you are working with a certificated aircraft then you need to budget as much for FAA approval as for parts.

But if you have an experimental, there is some information out there, and Pipistrel is even selling a kit:
https://www.pipistrel-usa.com/electric-propulsion/

[cub builder]

This is something that would be accomplished under Experimental Exhibition. FSDO can help you with the legalities of that. Not a difficult change to make.

However, I am not aware of any existing kits. You would have to contact the manufacturer of one of the electric motors and controllers that are being experimented with and start designing with them. Not my cup of tea, so can't help much in that arena. But look at one of the light sport planes that is touting electric power and go from there.

To me, it seems a criminal thing to do to a classic aircraft.

-Cub Builder

[rwanttaja]

This is something that would be accomplished under Experimental Exhibition. FSDO can help you with the legalities of that. Not a difficult change to make.

OP is in Canada. Probably falls under their "Owner Maintenance" category.

Ron Wanttaja

[DaleB]

It's not like there's a scarcity of old Cubs. The Pipistrel kit looks like it would roughly equivalent to 53 HP max takeoff power, 40 continuous. Experimental R&D might work too. It's an interesting thought, but I wonder if there are other possible solutions that might be more than just a novelty. I don't know exactly what kind of flight time you'd get with a 40 AH battery and that setup in a Cub, but I suspect it would be about enough for "proof of concept" flights, like maybe 15-20 minutes or so. A couple laps around the pattern, and back to the charger.

Battery capacity (40 Ah) - 9.7 kWh
Motor power 40 kW (1 min), 30 kW cont. Air cooled

What's 9.7 divided by 30 or 40? Or even 20? I don't know how much power it would take to keep a Cub flying... but it looks to me like you'd be lucky to get a takeoff and 15-20 minutes of flying.

[flyrgreen]

rkirk --- You can also contact SunFlyer. I think they are based in Colorado. They have a propulsion system that they have been putting in Arion Lightning airframes for flight schools. Supposedly a 1 hour endurance with reserve.