AE-1 Silent
Role	Ultralight sailplane Type of aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Air Energy
First flight	August 1997

The Air Energy AE-1 Silent is a German self-launching ultralight sailplane powered by an electric motor. Designed and built by Air Energy, the AE-1 Silent is also marketed by Alisport of Italy, see Alisport Silent 2 Targa.^[1][2] It first flew in August 1997.^[3]

Design and development

The Silent is a conventional composite monoplane glider with a retractable 13 kW (17 hp) electric motor driving a 1.92m propeller.^[4]

The aircraft was originally marketed with a nickel–cadmium battery pack, but in 2005 this was replaced with a lithium polymer battery system that gives three times the range of the early installation.^[2]

Specifications

Data from manufacturer^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 10.3 m² (111 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 14
• Empty weight: 195 kg (430 lb)
• Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Battery-powered electric motor , 13 kW (17 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph, 97 kn)
• Service ceiling: 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
• Rate of climb: 2.2 m/s (433 ft/min)
• Rate of sink: 0.78 m/s (154 ft/min)