Gabriel DeVault
Gabriel DeVault has built and flown two of his own electric aircraft and assisted in another dozen or so electric aircraft efforts. A founding team member of Zero Motorcycles, he was head of R&D for about five years and used a Zero motor, battery package, controller and engine monitor in his Electric Xenos. He also designed the electric powerplant for the Aerolite EV-103 ultralight.
Electric Airplane Fundamentals
Hi, my name is Gabe and I’m an unabashed electric airplane nerd. I have built and flown two of my own electric aircraft, and...
In Case You Missed It
Go Around
I just returned from my annual airline recurrent AQP, or Advanced Qualification Program, training....
Wind Tunnel
The author discusses the theory and effect of constant-speed propellers on piston-engine airplane performance, and compares fixed-pitch versus constant-speed props, effect on thrust HP and propulsion, the comprises involved in choosing a prop, how props perform in various conditions and phases of flight, how variable-pitch props work, and why a constant-speed prop is the best choice for high-performance aircraft.
Compromises
Never one to revel in the practical, recently I found myself expounding to a colleague on why the general aviation world moves at 2700 rpm.
