Hypermiling Airplane Gets 45mpg at 207 mph..

[Fumesucker]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/hypermiling-fue...



Usually with airplanes, speed and efficiency are a tradeoff. You go slower and burn less fuel, or you go faster and burn more fuel (all else being equal). This is why it is impressive that Mr. Savi won this year's Fuel Venture 400 in his modified VariEze (Originally designed by the famous Burt Rutan) by getting 45 MPG to 207 MPH, and this with two people on board (and for those wondering, There were no massive Tailwind or anything of the sort).

Savier has altered his Vari-EZ and its Continental 0-200 engine by adding computerized fuel injection and ignition systems of his own design. He typically flies at 190 KTAS while getting a Prius-like 50 miles per gallon. If he slows to extend range, Savier's mileage approaches 100 miles per gallon.

Although his Vari-EZ carries just 30 gallons of fuel, Savier has flown it nonstop to Oshkosh, Wis., (1,522 nm) and Panama City, Fla., (1,700 nm).

To improve the flight efficiency of the GA fleet, Savier says magnetos need to be replaced, once and for all, with electronic ignitions, and engines need the kinds of precise fuel injection that allows his Continental to run an almost incomprehensible 300 degrees lean of peak. In fact, Savier says his engine runs so lean, and so cool, that he has trouble keeping cylinder heads and oil temperatures warm enough at altitude--even though his engine has no oil cooler.

[Sherman A1]

1. Cool!

[madokie]

2. I've wanted one of those since the first time I seen one

I'd actually get my pilots license if I thought I had a smidgen of a chance of owning one of these babies

[Fumesucker]

3. It definitely shows that aerodynamic doesn't *have* to be fugly..

There is a road going vehicle that looks remarkably similar..

http://dvice.com/archives/2007/03/motorcycle-rocket-aca...

[madokie]

4. Sure does

looks like all it needs is wings.

To your statement about having to be fug ugly, why do the auto companies think we have to have ugly cars when we get into the hybrids, prius's, or straight Ev's like GM's EV1 was? I don't get it other than them not wanting us to buy the damn things to begin with.

[Fumesucker]

6. The Lexus LS 460 has a Cd of 0.26..

Right up there with a Prius..

http://www.pressroom.com.au/press_kit_detail.asp?client...

[madokie]

7. Oh yeah they are coming around

I'm not a foreign branded vehicle buyer as such but I can see that the ford hybrids looks just like their other gas only counterparts so its moving in the right direction.

I'm really not sure that how slippery a vehicle is up to a point is all that important. In other words going from a .36 to a .39 is going to make any difference in my pocketbook. I know it has some effect but many other things are way more important, in my way of thinking that is. fellow tinkerer

[Fumesucker]

9. At highway speed Cd makes a big difference..

At speeds over about 20 mph or so aerodynamic drag predominates, cutting aero drag makes a big difference in fuel consumption.

I'm interested in electric assisted bicycles these days, there is a simulator available that lets you plug in various parameters and will calculate top speed, range, watts used and so forth, at higher speeds changing the drag coefficient just a small amount makes a surprising difference in range and speed.

Here's a link to the simulator if you're interested in playing around with the numbers a bit.

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/download/file.php?...

The reason I mentioned the Lexus is because I happen to know it has one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production automobile, it has nothing to do with where it was made or by whom.

I'm working on an electric assisted bike very much like the one in the Youtube video below, I have the same bike but not enough money to buy all the high dollar parts he has on this machine so I'm improvising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Z3o4v9PHM

[madokie]

11. Thanks I've bookmarked that and will check it out one of these nights when I'm up at all hours of

the night and need something to do besides worry. thanks

I like that bike but I really like that you're improvising and using what you have or can get. Thats the way I do it too. when someone says something about all the stuff I have stashed here and there I reply that is my parts and supplies.
sometime post a pic of your project for us tinkerers to look at

[GliderGuider]

5. Memories of EZs

I was flying gliders out of a lovely grass strip in the Ottawa countryside a few years ago. One mid-summer evening we were putting the fleet away for the night and the shadows were creeping across the grass under a clear sky. Suddenly a pair of Vari-EZs flying in formation wingtip to wingtip appeared out of nowhere, swooped low over the field and did three high speed passes 50 feet off the deck. Each time they made a pass straight down the full length of the runway they would pull up and reef into a formation turn to line up for their next pass. It felt like standing on a grass aerodrome being strafed by fighter planes during the Battle of Britain.

The Vari-EZ and the Spitfire get my nod as two of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed.

[madokie]

8. I'll vote with that

Way back there an acquaintance and I almost bought one of the earlier powered hang gliders but personalities got in our way so we didn't. I've often wondered what would be if we had of.

[excess_3]

10. aircraft --> no EPA

if the EPA disappeared,
every car owner
in the US would be hypermiling.


don't hold your breath
in anticipation
of OilBama going along with hypermiling

edit, typo