Feature Photo by Mike Delaney

Friday morning, September 6, 2013. Once again, Chip Yates has pushed the frontiers of electric aviation, setting three new electric airplane international records in early morning flights over the Mojave Desert in California.

FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, or The World Air Sports Federation) will shortly release Yates’ newest achievements in his electric Long-ESA saga, with first-ever Official World Records for 1) time to climb 3,000 meters, 2) altitude, and 3) sustained horizontal altitude in an electric plane.

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“We’re thrilled with these new records…our time to climb beats nearly ALL gas planes,” said Yates. “The feeling of climbing 2000 feet/min from the deck all the way to 14,500′ was unreal. We clobbered our poor RV8 chase plane that has 180hp by a huge margin!” Yates looks forward to attempting two more world records for speed over 3km and 15km courses in the near future.  “I’m stongly encouraged by the speed we achieved – 218 MPH in level flight at 70% throttle!”

At 13,700 ft, Yates stole a moment to record the view from the nose (at left). “Simply breathtaking! I am so fortunate to pilot this amazing machine!”

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The successful Sept 6 flights bring Yates’ international records for electric vehicles to a stunning 14…ten for his electric motorcycle and four to date for the Long-ESA.  When asked if he plans to make a habit of setting world records, Yates said no.

“The world records are exciting,” he concedes. “But the point of all this – the reason I spend so much time and energy and money getting us to the next level – is to push our country’s electric vehicle technology and show what it’s capable of. We’re not far from bring able to develop massive commercial and military applications of this technology. That’s what fires my imagination.

“To me, the sky really is the limit…”

The FAI has released the provisional details of the 3 world records below, which once they ratify, become official.

FAI has received the following Class C (Aeroplanes) World record  claim:
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Claim number : 16926
Sub-class :C-1b (Landplanes: take off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group :  2 : Electric
Type of record : Altitude
Course/location : Inyokern, CA (USA)
Performance : 4480m
Pilot : William M. Yates (USA)
Aircraft : Long-EZ
Date :06/09/13
Current record :  no record set yet
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and
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Claim number : 16927
Sub-class :C-1b (Landplanes: take off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group :  2 : Electric
Type of record : Altitude in horizontal flight
Course/location : Inyokern, CA (USA)
Performance : 4400m
Pilot : William M. Yates (USA)
Aircraft : Long-EZ
Date :06/09/13
Current record :  no record set yet
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and
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Claim number : 16928
Sub-class :C-1b (Landplanes: take off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group :  2 : Electric
Type of record : Time to climb to a height of 3 000 m
Course/location : Inyokern, CA (USA)
Performance : 6m 29s
Pilot : William M. Yates (USA)
Date :06/09/13
Current record :  no record set yet
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The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and
the record ratified (if appropriate).

Record Officer
FAI – Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Maison du Sport International | Av. de Rhodanie 54 | 1007 Lausanne | Switzerland