COVID departures and exciting arrivals

This month we welcome the Electron E-75, the Extra NG, Ron Kent’s new balloon and an AL18 Texas Sport Cub

‘Hot air ballooning has long been a popular sport and tourist attraction in Australia, with over 400 balloons on the local CASA register’

Of the four new types shown in the listing this month, by far the most interesting is Colin Hutchison’s Australian designed Electron E-75 VH-CCC. The aircraft was developed from an idea to build the fastest electric aircraft and morphed into a very sleek-looking low wing, fixed undercarriage, two-seater capable of 250km/h with a 350-kilometre range and 2.5-hour endurance. The airframe is predominately carbon fibre with a small number of aluminium components while power is provided by an AC induction 75kw electric motor driving a ground-adjustable three-blade composite prop. A GRS 600 ballistic parachute can be fitted and the machine will be rated at +5/-2 G. The Electron will initially be available in kit form and will weigh-in below the 601-kilogram weight limit for RA-Aus registered aircraft. The maiden flight is expected during early 2021 followed by flight testing before going on sale late next year.