"We need to get going into the future in terms of clean aviation" --- Kim-Tobias Kohn

On this episode of the podcast I speak to Kim-Tobias Kohn who is a lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at the University of the West of England. Beside his main vocation, Kim is also an avid pilot and runs an electric skateboard startup company. Kim has garnered attention in the media and from aerospace societies in the UK for his unique university project of building an electric glider with his undergraduate students. For obvious reasons, building an electric passenger aircraft that can replace current fuel-powered airliners is significantly more challenging than replacing gasoline cars with electric vehicles. However, there is a growing grass-roots initiative developing in the UK that is attempting to solve some of the regulatory and technical challenges to realise this vision of electric aviation.

So in this episode Kim and I talk about:

the unique regulatory framework for experimental aircraft in the UK known as the E-conditions

the major technical hurdles that need to be overcome to make electric aviation a reality

how the UAV/drone sector is opening doors for larger-scale electric aviation

his university project of building an electric glider

his dreams for a student-led design, build and fly competition for electric aircraft

and much, much more

I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you enjoy the Aerospace Engineering Podcast you can support it by leaving a review on iTunes or by becoming a patron.

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This episode of the Aerospace Engineering Podcast is sponsored by SAMPE North America. SAMPE is a global professional society that has been providing educational opportunities on advanced materials for more than 70 years. SAMPE’s network of engineers is a key facilitator for the advancement of aerospace engineering by enabling information exchange and synergies between aerospace companies. To find out how SAMPE can help you learn more about advanced materials and processes, consider attending the SAMPE 2018 Technical Conference and Expo in Long Beach, California.

Selected Links from the Episode

Kim's electric glider project and his YouTube Vlog

Kim's company emotion engineering (UAV's, electric skateboards and aerial photography)

More info from the University of the West of England about the undergraduate electric glider project

Royal Aeronautical Society on electric flight

The UK E-conditions

Airbus, Rolls Royce and Siemens E-fan hybrid electric aircraft

EasyJet on electric aircraft

Wired on electric aircraft

Electric flight potential and limitations

Formula Student and Formula SAE

SolarFlight solar-powered planes

Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery problems