Electric Planes

We all know about the electric cars being made now, but what about electric aeroplanes??

The first prototype for the world's first commercial passenger
plane has just been exhibited in the Parish Airshow.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48630656

How do you feel about this?
Would you dare take a flight in one?

Re: Electric Planes

OK.

Yes.

Re: Electric Planes

My son just bought one of these new Mavic Mini drones, less than $600 and all electric.

I have always wanted a drone (no idea what for) so I was dead jealous. 1 gram under 250gm so it doesn't have to be registered.

Re: Electric Planes

That's a bit different though Bruce.

You won't be flying in that.

Re: Electric Planes

I think there are a number of considerations.

Firstly, if electricity is to be the power source, the most obvious (perhaps the only) choice would be propeller driven motion. This would necessarily lead to much reduced speeds.

Accepting that, I think I'd prefer a helium-filled airship. That would ideally be propelled by electrically-driven propellers and the electrical supply could come from solar cells which could cover a large proportion of the large envelope, providing a larger power source. Flying at night, though, would be limited to what could be stored in batteries, which are heavy!

Another option would be to generate electricity by the provision of a nuclear reactor, but this of course has its drawbacks.

Yes, I'd take a flight in it, certainly an airship. Even if we run out of 'fuel' (electricity), it would not suddenly plummet to the ground.

Re: Electric Planes

I think that to be truly environmentally friendly we should have clockwork planes that you can wind up. People could pay to wind them up as it's such a good workout. win:win

Re: Electric Planes

In a word...Nup. If that is a word. Need a bloody big battery to get the thrust to get it off the ground. HOw do you get one that is strong but light enough?

Re: Electric Planes

That's true but it's a lot more fun.

Re: Electric Planes

Fuel cell. That and / or hybrid. Gas turbine launch boost, electric once at altitude.

That - or a bloody long power cord!

Re: Electric Planes

Hmmm … I think before electric passenger flights have been perfected we'll see the laser drive come to the fore and maybe even the impulse engines of space flight fiction. Many things seen now were once though of as fiction, so nothing can be ruled out and when push comes to shove the inventiveness of us humans often surprise.