The SportStar EPOS+ (under development) represents a future sport aircraft concept - driven by an electric motor, environmentally friendly with low maintenance and operation costs. The original power unit is the pinnacle of the performance series of drives designed for gliders, motorized Rogallo wings or powered paragliding.
The power unit is a compact and more efficient DC electric motor RE BB 90-5 with increased power to 100 hp, developed by the company Rotex Electric, which directly drives the three-blade composite propeller manufactured by VZLÚ Prague. Engine performance is controlled by an electronic control unit, developed by MGM COMPRO, which ensures optimal use of the energy stored in the battery containers. The aircraft can be equipped with two pairs of containers - each container includes 45 lithium polymer cells connected in series.
Due to the electric power unit, the airplane does not produce any emissions and no manipulation with substances that could endanger the environment (especially fuel or engine oil) is necessary. Furthermore, noise associated with the operation of the aircraft is significantly reduced, allowing the use of airports near populated areas without local residents being disturbed by excessive noise. Last but not least, the comfort of the crew members has also been increased.
The power unit control is very intuitive - only one control lever moving forwards and backwards. There is no need to adjust mixture richness and monitor cylinder head temperature as in airplanes with combustion engines. The control unit is responsible for optimum engine operation, battery status and the entire power system. All necessary information is shown on the digital dashboard display, developed by the team at the Faculty of Information Technology at the Brno University of Technology.
Operating costs of electric aircraft are significantly lower than costs associated with aircraft equipped with internal combustion engines. The cost of "fuel" itself is 75% lower. Further cost reduction is made possible by the simple and compact construction of the power unit - the number of components of the electric drive is almost 90% lower and maintenance costs are thus significantly reduced.
The installed rechargeable electronic unit enables battery charging in the aircraft itself by using the current from a regular electrical outlet (220 V, 50 - 60 Hz). If the aircraft batteries are charged by using the external charging station from a 400 V electrical network, it is possible to accelerate battery charging by 50%. The charging process is fully automated and optimized to maintain long battery life.
Aircraft Prototype
The Aircraft complies with ELSA rules developed by the Light Aircraft Association of the Czech Republic and ASTM F2840-11.