Catching up on some particulars with Randall Fishman of ElectraFlyer after our chat at Sun n Fun, he told me he’s selling his prototype C model for $49,000.
Here’s what he had to say about it and other aspects of his electric powered aircraft pioneering efforts: “We have sold trikes since 2007. Most of our sales are propulsion kits, batteries and chargers for people either building something new or converting to electric. The first two of the new motors are in my shop now and we will be mounting them for testing.
“The C is a one off conversion of a plane I already owned (a Moni kit motorglider). I want to sell it now to help finance the new projects. It is really the first successful electric airplane other than some exotic million dollar science projects such as the solar planes. I hope there is a collector out there.
Archives for April 2011
LSA Tour #2 Is Underway
Hard on the heels of their prototype LSA Tour after Sebring last January and the recent Sun ‘n Fun 2011 in Lakeland, Florida, the 2011 Georgia LSA Tour gang is at it again. *** Three makes of Cubalikes alone will be there, as well as the other LSA you see in the nearby mailer. *** This time they’re swinging north from the Sunshine State to bring The Word to several Southern airports. *** Here’s a great way to avoid the airshow crowds and have some meaningful one-on-one with top industry reps. *** Specifics below: be sure and call in case of changes due to weather.
Update later on 4/7/11 — See our earlier report on the Georgia LSA Tour where you’ll find more readable phone numbers plus dates for the stops. —DJ
Let There Be Light
After the disastrous tornadic storm that blew through the area last Thursday, Lakeland was blessed with warm, then hot, picture book Florida weather and good crowds, right up through final day Sunday, as the fabulous Blue Angels, a stunning demo by the Air Force F22 Raptor, Patty Wagstaff’s always-incredible acro routine, and the Aeroshell T-6 squadron doing its thing: always great to see those (noisy but iconic) big old WWII trainers do such graceful, precision loops and rolls in formation through the sky, leaving billows of white smoke to mark their path.I was a bit under the weather last night so no blog…knew I shouldn’t have eaten that chicken…but back at it today to fly with Bill Cox as he previewed Garmin’s exciting new GTN touch screen technology. *** Then pounding the sneaker rubber to finish up the rounds of the five exhibit hangars and survey new products and gadgets. I even bought myself some oil-filled insoles to calm my throbbing tootsies…one ends up walking miles and miles at these airshows, unless you can pop $60/day or more to rent a small personal electric cart.
Trail Of Tears
I was just leaving So. Lakeland AirPark (X49) today, bemoaning the lack of activity down there — LSA dealers used to bring their aircraft down there for demos but not many people seem to do that the last couple years, and I don’t know why. *** That’s a shame because it’s a long grass strip with a wonderful country ambience…a great place to try out an LSA without the hussle and bustle of the airshow a few miles north. *** Departing the field, I came across the Dakota Cub folks. They were finishing the unhappy task of bringing the wreckage (fuselage on one trailer, wings on another) to a hangar at X49 until they could get a determination from the insurance people as to whether to rebuild it or write it off as salvage. *** Back at the airshow later, I talked with Amy Gersch and Speedy Richardson, my companions on the interminably long (weather-delayed) trip out to the show all last week.
Video of Sun ‘n Fun Carnage
Not long after the windstorm, I shot these videos. *** There were other sections on the field I didn’t get to that had more airplanes flipped, including, sad to say, a couple beautiful J3 Cubs. I hope the Grand Champion hopeful I videoed yesterday wasn’t one of them…but everybody loses when this many airplanes are damaged and destroyed.