E-Go Aeroplanes e-Go

{{Short description|Ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Lowercase title}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = e-Go | logo = | logo_size = | image = e-Go flying2 edited.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft and Light-sport aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Kingdom | manufacturer = e-Go Aeroplanes<br>GioCAS Aeronautical Consultancy | design_group = | designer = Giotto Castelli<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/team/meet-team/ |title=Meet The Team |publisher=e-Go aeroplanes |date=2013-11-02 |accessdate=2014-03-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314040533/http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/team/meet-team/ |archivedate=14 March 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | builder = | issuer = | status = No updates since October 2019 | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 24 October 2013 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

thumb|E-Go canard microlight aircraft thumb|Tibenham, first public display of the e-Go, on 30 October 2013 thumb|Flight at Old Warden June 2014 with extended lower finsthumb|E-Go canard microlight aircraft at Old Warden thumb|Early E-Go elevation design, with tiny wheels, aft fuselage air-intake, and unraked and unextended fins

The '''e-Go Aeroplanes e-Go''', originally known as the '''E-Plane''', is a British ultralight and light-sport aircraft that was designed by Giotto Castelli, that was being developed by e-Go Aeroplanes of Cambridge and since May 2017, by GioCAS Aeronautical Consultancy, also located in Cambridge.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 42. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 44. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>

The aircraft won the Light Aircraft Association's design competition in 2007. It was first flown on 24 October 2013, with the first public flight-test and demonstration on 30 October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-24750978|work=BBC News|access-date=31 October 2013|title=e-Go aeroplane: Norfolk test flight for Cambridge plane}}</ref> The aircraft was initially proposed to be supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="website">{{cite web|author=Tony Bishop |url=http://www.e-go.me/ |title=e-Go aeroplanes |publisher=E-go.me |date= |accessdate=2013-04-14}}</ref><ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/e-Go-Aeroplanes/132433470121448?v=wall |title=e-Go Aeroplanes |publisher=Facebook |date=2012-12-13 |access-date=2013-04-14}}</ref>

Production plans for the design were suspended and staff laid off in November 2016 as e-Go Aeroplanes was unable to raise capital in the wake of the British Brexit vote. The aircraft program was acquired by GioCAS, owned by Castelli, in May 2017, with the aim of bringing it to production. In October 2019, the GioCAS company website stated that production of the e-GO was "set to resume for 2020 deliveries"; {{As of|2025|October|lc=yes}}, the company may no longer exist, as the website has not been updated for six years.

==Design and development== The aircraft was designed to comply with the United Kingdom single-seat deregulated microlight class (SSDR), as well as to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules. The aircraft cruise speed is planned to be modified for US light-sport aircraft rules.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Flight For British Single-Seater|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/First-Flight-For-British-Single-Seater220917-1.html|accessdate=6 November 2013}}</ref> It features a cantilever mid wing, a canard foreplane, a single-seat enclosed cockpit, fixed tricycle landing gear and a pusher engine and propeller.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA15"/><ref name="website" /> This follows the configuration established by the Rutan VariViggen and VariEze. The single engine is a Rotron Wankel engine based on Rotron's RT300 LCR engine which is intended for drones.

The aircraft is made from a combination of carbon fibre and foam. Its {{convert|8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing has an area of {{convert|11.5|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}. The standard engine will be a {{convert|30|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} rotary engine, which is expected to give a cruise speed of {{convert|100|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on|0|}} on {{convert|3.5|L|impgal usgal|abbr=on|1}} per {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA15"/> Each wing has twin spars to provide torsional strength.<ref>LAA magazine flight test April 2020 page 34</ref> The early lift-off canopy (which needed outsiders to help the pilot vacate the cockpit) was changed to a forward-hinged design in later models.

During 2016, e-Go Aeroplanes announced that full production would not proceed without further financial input, "an investment memorandum for a third round of funding was issued and distributed in July this year ... shareholder interest generated was insufficient, coupled with the unsure financial market following Brexit. The Board made the very difficult decision to make all staff positions redundant."<ref>October 2016 Company Newsletter email</ref>

In November 2016, e-Go Aeroplanes's operation was mothballed, and "overseen by Chief Operating Officer, Richard Clabon and the General Manager David Boughey". The company website stated that it was still looking for a buyer.<ref name="Home">{{cite web|url=http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/ |title=e-Go Airplanes is Seeking a Buyer |accessdate=14 November 2016 |author=e-Go Airplanes |year=2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115201547/http://www.e-goaeroplanes.com/ |archivedate=15 November 2016 }}</ref> but the company went into administration in the spring of 2017.<ref>{{cite journal |date=June 2017 |title=Civil Aiviation News|journal= Air Britain Aviation World|pages=56 }}</ref>

In May 2017 the assets of e-Go Aeroplanes were acquired by the aircraft's designer, Giotto Castelli, indicating that he would pursue production under his company, GioCAS Aeronautical Consultancy.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.facebook.com/eGo.aeroplanes/|title = e-Go Aeroplanes|access-date = 31 May 2018|last = Castelli|first = Giotto|work = www.facebook.com|date = 30 May 2017}}</ref>

In October 2019, the GioCAS company website stated that production of the e-GO was "set to resume for 2020 deliveries";<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=about e-Go aeroplanes |website=giocas.eu |date=2019-10-30 |url=http://giocas.eu:80/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030192531/http://giocas.eu:80/ |archive-date=2019-10-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2025|October|lc=yes}}, the company may no longer exist, with the website unchanged after six years, still looking towards a 2020 delivery schedule,<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=about e-Go aeroplanes |website=giocas.eu |date=2025-09-16 |url=https://giocas.eu/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |quote=VAT N. 271684385 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909005226/https://giocas.eu/ |archive-date=2025-09-09 |url-status=live}}</ref> and showing a VAT that is no longer registered.<ref>{{cite web |title=Check a UK VAT number |publisher=HM Revenue and Customs |url=https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-vat-number/unknown |access-date=2025-10-16 |quote=Invalid UK VAT number {{!}} You searched for '271684385'. This does not match the VAT number of any UK VAT-registered business.}}</ref>

==Specifications (e-Go) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Bayerl.''<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Facebook" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=8 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=11.5 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=115 |empty weight lb=254 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=243 |gross weight lb=536 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|25|L}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Rotron e-Go rotary aircraft engine

|eng1 type=|eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=30

|perfhide=

|max speed kts=120 |max speed mph=138 |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=65 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=330 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=4.6 |climb rate ftmin=900 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= *MGL EFIS }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|E-go aeroplane}} *{{Official website|http://giocas.eu/}} *[http://vimeo.com/78206802 Official first flight video]

Category:2010s British ultralight aircraft Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Light-sport aircraft Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:Wankel-engined aircraft Category:Canard aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 2013