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White Lightning is the Air Race E series, which uses electric aircraft supported by Airbus, announced as a racing electric plane. The aircraft looks like a typical single-seater sports airplane, but the mounted motor is capable of flying at 483 km/h on an air race course flying at 10 m low altitude.
The built-in lithium battery to make the aircraft weight as light as possible can only perform a 10-minute pre-flight and only a 5-minute race flight. Jeff Zaltman, CEO of AirRace E, explains that the plane and series exhibition serves as a flight laboratory for the electric aircraft development test bed.
Although electricity can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, electric aircraft are not yet technologically complete. CEO Saltman points out that the aviation industry’s efforts to electrify are 20 years behind cars. Formula E explained the significance of holding the series by saying that car manufacturers are embracing technology development as much as possible, and that there is no reason why Airlace E will not help develop aerospace technology.
He also said that Formula E gave the car room for motors and other parts development after starting the series with a complete one-make. Air Race E plans to bring its own technology into airplanes from the start. In response, a US Navy aircraft engineer said it was a good way to support the leap forward for companies to develop electrification propulsion for next-generation aircraft.
Airbus, which supports the series, also says the sponsorship agreement is confidential, saying some answers to the future of electric planes will come from the series. In addition, before the series, there is a possibility that exchange opportunities between excellent engineers and scholars, which cannot be met in the general aerospace industry, are expected to be created.
For reference, Airbus is already developing a small hybrid aircraft (E-Fan) that is scheduled to conduct its first demonstration flight in 2021. Air Race E is scheduled to hold its first event in the second half of 2020. Related information can be found here .
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