Extended range battery?

[mic jayo]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone has heard of plans for new
batteries? I understand the current ones had some
issues but moving forward is there anything coming
from new technologies?
Thank you
Mike

[Matt Herron]

Vytas Marcilius, the Director of the LAK factory told me that the enhanced batteries with two additional cells per battery will be available to anyone who wants one. I intend to order them  with Mini LAK # 29, which will be delivered to me sometime next Fall. While I was in Lithuania, I self launched a LAK 17B in 18 meter configuration, that had been experimentally upgraded to use the more powerful batteries. The launch was routine and powerful.

I think this signals the end of sustains in any LAK ship where the owner is willing to pay a little more for the powerful batteries. I understand they will be standard in the upcoming LAK 17C FES.

[Steven L. Bair, Psy.D.]

I have SN021 on order with the larger batteries. Scheduled to be shipped this June (hopefully). Thanks to Matt’s intel from his visit to the factory I asked and was told the upgrade was possible.

Steve Bair

PS - my pristine 17B FES will be available soon!

[bythesea1234]

Is it only a battery issue or did you also have the landing gear modified to give more clearance?

Bill Hanson

[Steven L. Bair, Psy.D.]

The gear us unchanged. There is a different controller. Max RPM's are increased to 5300. The water ballast control mechanism had to be disconnected to accommodate the larger battery box in the fuselage. This is also true on the 17C.

Steve Bair