This is a performance mod on GotFriends Edgley Optica which I made to myself. First of all, I must give them full credits for modelling and creating such an amazing aircraft. Its peculiar look and helicopter-level visibility are just fantastic.
Could it be any better? Sure, it can!
Long time since the first release of MSFS2020 I missed the engine type that was supported by X-Plane, that is an electric motor. Since they added gliders with retractable FES motors several updates ago I finally got this possibility and made it work. Trying some other airplanes in the process of decision which one to make an electric plane, I stopped at the Optica for two reasons. First, it has its engine and propellers placed in the middle in a duct and second, the overall visibility is just too great plus the plane already looks sci-fi to me. And third, you can fly with your pets!
So, how would we retrofit the Optica? Let us pretend that we have some magical battery technology of 10x the current best Li-Ion energy density. It could be Lithium-Air batteries or whatever. Then we replace the oldie Lycoming 260 hp with a modest 300 KW engine. And on top of that, let's double the number of our propellers and make them counter-rotating, so it would neutralize all prop torque and increase efficiency according to the theory.
After a lot of tinkering with MSFS undocumented feature of electric engines I have finally achieved a result. A little flight model adjustments were made as well.
So now Optica Electric has a 300 KW motor and props with auto-pitch. How does it fly?
The thing is, it can fly in a very wide range of speeds and altitudes. As you can guess, an electric motor does not lose any power with altitude. Using the modified FES-FCU computer from DG1001 Neo in the cockpit (not included in the mod) I calculated the following figures.
1) On low altitudes and 60 KW power (20% throttle) the range is about 1500 nm with a speed of about 100 KTAS.
2) On altitude of 30000 feet the top speed with full power is around 250 KTAS and the range is about 800-900 nm.
3) Max altitude that is remotely reasonable is 50000 feet, there you can cruise at 320 KTAS with full power and your range is about the same. When flying higher the aircraft becomes wobbly because of extremely thin atmosphere and prop blades actually start to break the sound barrier.
All those calculations took a 1000 KWh battery as an input. Using the energy density of 2500 Wh/kg (unachievable at the moment), the battery makes the Optica Electric much heavier than the original one but a more powerful engine surely counters that fact.
Th new empty weight is 2980 lbs, the stall speed with full flaps stays at 55-56 knots.
Sounds were taken from the DG1001 Neo as no combustion process makes the engine just silent.
I added some more avionics for myself for better awareness of the engine state and flying experience, but they're not included in the mod. The mod does not include any payware content, just performance tweaks. You need to have the original plane owned to use this mod.
The permission to publish the mod was received on the official GotFriends discord channel.
If you have any troubles installing or running this mod, please contact me on discord @smart_rookie.
MaxwellZH
smart_rookie author
9 months ago
pilot233
My only request would be for a battery state indication of some kind. Not sure if what the author used in development is something that can be downloaded?
smart_rookie author
9 months ago
skandalsky
After deleting the mod everything is fine.
My MSFS is the latest beta.
smart_rookie author
9 months ago
Philm29
The aircraft loads into the sim, but it is still the old gas powered motor. No electric motor or electric sounding equipment. It is like there is no mod at all.
smart_rookie author
What you see on your fuel meter? Can you add any?
1 years ago
Pilot8Jason
Does not show in in my hangar? (I do have the gotfriends payware optica)
Really want this to work - I have been wishing for a higher power optica since it was released.....
SerenaFrank
Same for me :(
1 years ago