There was a time when having your own plane was a pretty clear indicator that you were part of that upper crust of society. If it was a pricey and rare electric plane, then all the more. But those days are numbered as the influx of compact and powerful electric powertrain components collides with good old American entrepreneurism to create a number of interesting new electric flying machines that now make it cheaper to fly yourself than drive.
To manage expectations, let’s start by saying we’re talking here about a category of aviation known as “ultralights.” These are tiny, single-occupant aircraft that don’t require airworthiness certificates or pilot’s licenses to operate.
There are still a few rules, namely a total weight under 254 lb (115 kg) and a maximum speed of 55 knots (63 mph or 102 km/h). They also can only be operated in daylight or twilight, and are prohibited from flying over any “congested area of a city.” But other than those and a few other smaller rules, they’re largely a wild-west of minimally-regulated flying machines that allow just about anyone with a credit card and working appendages to achieve their dream of powered flight.
For a long time, the motor of choice for ultralights was either a two-stroke or four-stroke gasoline engine. They were readily available and had the power-to-weight ratio necessary to make an ultralight aircraft work (and fit under the 254-lb limit). But as electric motors have become more power dense and lithium-ion batteries have become more energy dense, electric powertrains are becoming increasingly popular for ultralights.
Electric drivetrains offer ultralight pilots whisper-quiet operation, instant torque, and minimal maintenance. They’re ideal for short, recreational flights where simplicity and low operating costs matter more than range. I.e., they’re perfect for ultralights.
And now that the components used in such drivetrains are more affordable than ever, it’s suddenly becoming cheaper to buy a fully-electric aircraft than buy a used combustion engine car.
Don’t believe it? Check these bad boys out.
First up is an honest-to-goodness electric airplane. With a wingspan of nearly 27 feet (8.2 meters), the Aerolite EV-103 is described as “perhaps the first viable all-electric fixed wing ultralight aircraft.”
It’s built using the tried-and-true Aerolite airframe that has served as the foundation for countless gasoline engine-powered ultralight aircraft over the years. But the EV-103 makes a few small modifications to the airframe to allow the mounting of a 22 kW peak-rated electric motor in place of the gasoline engine.
Balls to the wall, a top speed of 55 knots (63 mph or 102 km/h) is claimed by the spec sheet, which just so happens to perfectly align with the maximum allowable top speed for ultralight aircraft. However, pilots who have operated the EV-103 have reported that the true top speed is even higher, though it tends to eat through battery life quickly when operated at its highest speeds.
If you thought range anxiety was a thing for electric vehicles on the road, wait until you’re up at 1,000 feet. Fortunately though, you’ve got options.
The electric drivetrain on the Aerolite EV-103 comes with different battery setups that affect the flight time. A minimum of two batteries are required to power the plane, offering 5.2 kWh of capacity and a somewhat underwhelming flight time of 20 minutes. Three or four batteries can be mounted though, upping the flight time to 30 or 40 minutes, respectively, when cruising at around 30-35 knots (40-45 mph or 65-72 km/h). Each of the 2.6 kWh batteries weighs 36 lb (16 kg) and can be removed for charging individually with a simple 120V wall charger, or can be charged all together at once when left on the plane.
The complete Aerolite 103 Quick Build Airframe Kit is available (with some assembly required) for US $17,950. Owners choose their own propulsion system, and the company’s Electric Propulsion System starts at $10,376 for the two-battery package. The three-battery and four-battery setups are priced at $13,739 and $17,102.
For those that don’t want to assemble the airframe, there are ready-to-fly versions available too. The electric EV-103 is priced at between $32,326 to $39,052, depending on the number of batteries.
It’s not exactly lunch money, but it also beats a $300,000 Pipistrel Velis Electro or a $100,000 Jetson ONE eVTOL.
If $30k is still a bit rich for your blood, you’re in luck. If you don’t require fixed wings to feel like a true aircraft, then electric paramotors might be for you.
For just US $6,759, an SP140 electric paramotor can have you flying far above the treetops with a similarly-sized 21 kW electric motor. While it can’t match the speed of fixed-wing electric ultralight aircraft (paramotors are limited by their paraglider wing, which typically can only reach speeds of around 30 knots (35 mph or 56 km/h), the SP140 electric paramotor offers much longer flight times.
The brainchild of Paul Vavra, the SP140 Electric was designed to be an affordable, open-source electric paramotor that would give operators long flight times combined with all the other advantages of electric operation. Paul has refined the design over many years, making it safer and more effective with each new version.
The base 2.6 kWh battery can provide between 20-40 minutes of flight time, while the larger 4.8 kWh battery option can hang around for up to 80 minutes of flight. Even more batteries can be added as well, though by the time you get to 2 hours of flight, the extra weight makes the system less comfortable for foot launching and thus a trike setup becomes more comfortable.
Beyond flight time per battery charge, electric paramotors offer several advantages over electric fixed-wing ultralight aircraft, especially in terms of simplicity, portability, and accessibility. They require far less infrastructure (no runway or hangar needed) and can be transported in the trunk of a car and launched from an open field. Their low cost, ease of use, and slow flying speeds make them ideal for casual pilots, aerial photography, and exploration. And with fewer mechanical systems, paramotors are also generally easier to maintain.
Plus, when compared to gasoline-powered paramotors, electric power obviously offers huge advantages of quieter operation (and silence when the throttle is released), reduced vibrations, and much cheaper operation costs. Gasoline-powered paramotors often cost between US $7.50 to $12.00 per hour of flight, whereas the SP140 costs just $0.60 per hour.
The entire system weighs between 54-79 lb (25-35 kg) depending on the battery option, and packs down to fit in the trunk of a car. In less than five minutes, it can be out of a trunk and fully-assembled (tool-free!), ready to fly. At less than the weight of many electric bicycles (and easier to transport in a trunk, too), I’d argue that the SP140 electric paramotor qualifies as a micromobility vehicle.
Electrek’s Take
Electric aircraft are becoming increasingly common, and it’s no longer rare to see new models capturing headlines. But while fancy multirotor designs that look like scaled up toy drones get most of the press, perhaps these less sexy but significantly more affordable (and actually commercially available) models might be a better real-world solution.
Let’s put the safety issue aside for a moment. I’m going to assume we all recognize that assembling and then taking to the skies in your own largely unregulated flying machine is fraught with risk. But that it’s also your right as an American to dadgum go out there and do it. So let’s just talk about the efficacy first.
Merely looking at the practicality of these things, I can see the argument for them. And it’s not just for recreation, which is of course the primary purpose of ultralights. There are plenty of cases where flying somewhere would just be a more convenient way to get there. Consider rural areas where taking the local state roads or highways could require traveling dozens of miles by car, even if the same distance could be covered in just a few miles as the crow flies. Or as the dude with $7,000 and a healthy appreciation for physics flies.
These could basically be the perfect rural shortcut. You could literally run to the store by ultralight, and it may be quicker and cheaper.
Farm or ranch surveillance would also be a great option. “Out riding fences” isn’t just a line, it’s a real thing that landowners have to do as they inspect miles of fencing for damage, among plenty of other tasks that require monitoring on sprawling personal acreage. Being able to do many of those tasks more quickly from the air could be a major force multiplier.
And while this likely won’t affect the majority of us, anyone who lives in an island chain or even along a coastline might find that an ultralight aircraft is a great way to move between islands or reach destinations along the coast in a faster and more convenient way – not to mention much more scenic.
So sure, personal air travel is still a bit of a niche form of transportation for the average person, but it’s not without its advantages.
And now, as I promised, let’s discuss safety. Yes, these can be dangerous. Just like I know that when I get on my motorcycles, I’m assuming a higher risk than when I get in a car, I imagine the same thought process is necessary for an ultralight aircraft. I’m not telling anyone to go out and become your own pilot. But I AM saying that it’s pretty darn cool that now you can be, that it can be affordable, and that you can finally do it all-electric.
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