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The e-Go Aeroplanes e-Go, originally known as the E-Plane, is a British ultralight and light-sport aircraft that was designed by Giotto Castelli, that was being developed by e-Go Aeroplanes of Cambridge.
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The aircraft won the Light Aircraft Association's design competition in 2007. It was first flown on 24 October 2013, with the first public flight-test and demonstration on 30 October 2013. The aircraft was initially to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.
Production plans for the design were suspended and staff laid off in November 2016 as the company was unable to raise capital in the wake of the British Brexit vote.
Design and development
The aircraft was designed to comply with the United Kingdom single-seat deregulated microlight class, as well as to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules. The aircraft cruise speed is planned to be modified for US light-sport aircraft rules. It features a cantilever mid wing, a canard foreplane, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a pusher engine and propeller. This follows the configuration established by the Rutan VariViggen and VariEze. The single engine is a Rotron Wankel engine based on Rotron's RT300 LCR engine which is intended for drones.
The aircraft is made from a combination of carbon fibre and foam. Its 8 m (26.2 ft) span wing has an area of 11.5 m2 (124 sq ft). The standard engine will be a 22 kW (30 hp) rotary engine, which is expected to give a cruise speed of 100 kn (185 km/h; 115 mph) on 3.5 l (0.8 imp gal; 0.9 US gal) per 100 km (62 mi).
During 2016, the company announced that full production would not proceed without further financial input, "an investment memorandum for a third round of funding was issued and distributed in July this year ... shareholder interest generated was insufficient, coupled with the unsure financial market following Brexit. The Board made the very difficult decision to make all staff positions redundant."
In November 2016, the company's operation was mothballed, and "overseen by Chief Operating Officer, Richard Clabon and the General Manager David Boughey". The company website states that it is still looking for a buyer.
Specifications (e-Go)
Data from Bayerl
General characteristics
Performance
Avionics