Science & Technology
NASA developing plane with 18 propellers
By
T.K. RandallMarch 22, 2015 ·
8 comments
An artist's impression of what the finished plane will look like. Image Credit: NASA
A new experimental aircraft has been designed to demonstrate the viability of battery-powered planes.
Known as the Leading Edge Asynchronous Propeller Technology project ( LEAPTech ), the new design uses lithium iron phosphate batteries to power an array of 18 propellers attached to a carbon composite wing measuring 31ft across.
The project is part of NASA's ongoing X-Plane program which has developed prototypes of several revolutionary aircraft over the last few decades including the first rocket powered plane to break the sound barrier and the precursor to the space shuttles.
While the new propeller-based aircraft is not yet ready for a test flight, the team behind it will shortly be conducting a ground-based test which involves mounting the wing on to a truck and using the propellers to accelerate it at speeds of up to 70mph across a dry lake bed in California.
The large number of propellers, which work by blowing air over the wing to pull the plane forwards and to generate lift, allow for a much thinner design than that of most conventional aircraft.
If all goes well the plane should be capable of flying up to 200mph with a range of 450 miles.
Source:
Wired |
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Tags:
LEAPTech, Aircraft
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