If you don't mind an interview subject reclining in an electric sailplane, this is a pretty interesting look at the present and future of motors and batteries in gliding technology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcWSI03NKo0
Solar powered flight with Eric Raymond
Moderator: Chip
If what he says is true, batteries get 30% lighter every year, that will change the sport. In 5 years the 75lbs battery pack for the electro flyer will weigh about 10lbs. I imagine it will look like a small fire extinguisher with a beercan sized motor attached and folding prop that will weigh 13lbs and give a glider 2 hours of flight time. We could see a lot of pilots flying back and forth to Crestline. We might have to amend club rules to allow an unpowered glide into our LZ from a distance to keep noise down. Big T wash could make a good powered launchpoint. I saw Joe Greble launch a Mosquito there a few years back.
