Faradair Aerospace Limited has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for its Bio-Fuel Powered Electric Tri-plane that has been claimed to be the world’s first true hybrid aircraft. At the moment, Faradair’s Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft or abbreviated as BEHA is a concept which is unlikely to take to the skies until 2018. However, the efforts have begun to transform this concept into a flying prototype.
Faradair’s BEHA combines a triple box-wing design concept along with electric motors and bio-diesel engine. BEHA’s design inspiration comes from de Havilland Dragon Rapide, a 1930’s British airliner known for its famous box-wing design.
BEHA will employ twin electric fan motors delivering 200hp each, in combination with a 200hp bio-diesel generator integrating a pusher propeller. The propellers are planned to be contained within a duct for noise reduction and safety. BEHA will rely on electric power for landing and taking-off while operating bio-diesel engine inflight to recharge the batteries. The concept also engages energy conservation and recovery technologies including solar panel skins on all flight surfaces combined with a revolutionary wind-turbine technology. The triple box-wing design is predicted to generate an exceptional amount of lift while reducing wing turbulence.
Safety has been the hallmark of this concept providing ballistic parachute recovery system and a fuselage crash protection structure which is more commonly found in Formula One vehicles. The design also incorporates highly efficient glide capability incase of total engine failure. Faradair also plan to equip BEHA with remote control system for the aircraft to be landed and taken-off by the ground pilot incase of any emergency.
The key features that set BEHA apart from currently available electric aircrafts, are its size and inflight recharging capability. Most electric planes require ground based charging and have large glider-like wings forcing a requirement of special runways for taking off and landing. While BEHA can operate from normal airfields and recharge itself in midair.
Faradair’s Managing Director Neil Cloughley says, “This aircraft will be one of the most eco-friendly and safest aircraft in the world, costing somewhere close to $1m US Dollars per aircraft.”
Source: Kickstarter