eXenos Electric Motorglider

Join KITPLANES editor at large Paul Dye as he describes what's new and what's cool with the Gabriel DeVault Xenos motorglider powered by an electric motor. Near-silent fun flying is the short answer.

[@joeandjanice]

This is the kind of article I wish more aviation magazines would explore. Congratulations. Well done.

[@mike20sm]

So cool. Looking forward to future videos on this

[@SooperToober]

Brilliant

[@crankhandle]

Very cool!

[@mytubehkjt]

Would love a review on the Xenos B model.

[@WoutervanTiel]

It's an interesting idea, but what is the glide ratio? The best way an electric powered airplane will work is as a glider, especially if the wings can be covered with solar panels and a small diesel powered supplemental electricity generating motor could be on board as well. It would allow the engine to run as long as possible, it would be as quiet as possible to fly. That is what I am looking for. But in a glider with about 35:1 plus glide ratio. This one I would guess is around 17:1 possibly less and yet while that qualifies as a glider due to aspect ratio of the wing, there are LSAs that have that kind of glide ratio and they are not gliders.

[@TheMarcball]

Great. Is that the Gabriel Devault machine or an official Sonex offering? Thanks for the inspiration and keep on trucking!

[@KitplanesMagazine]

It's Gabe's project but we're told that Sonex has been supportive of the concept.

[@ThalassTKynn]

Wasn't Sonex working on there own electric plane about ten years ago?

[@thewyliestcoyote]

Good to hear about not needing a PhD in electrical engineering to build it. Mine is not finished mine yet.

[@yacahumax1431]

I think you could refine the cowling instead of just closing the air inlets

[@TheSoaringChannel]

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀