Fully agree on all points. But as stated earlier, EDAT is a good baby step for electric distributed propulsion. Because if you can’t do an electric tail rotor requiring only 1×E-7, how will you ever do an all electric EVTOL requiring a probability of failure better than 1XE-9?
phenomenal question. I do not have faith in full electric EVTOL in the next 3 generations of occupants. I believe we will have at least one full generation of residents on Mars before we have full electric EVTOL’s FAA certified for part 135 equivalent operation. Technical risks abound and the civil certification mountain is getting much worse not better. The 737MAX will take a horrendous process to new heights (or lows). Just one example, it has long been an embarrassment to take approved and in Service STC’s and get them incorporated into an aircraft TC. That’s literally an approved change getting incorporated in an approved aircraft. These processes get denied all the time for stuff like.... Lithium BATTERIES! Should be easy to get approval to power the whole ship with them!
As long as the regulatory environment continues it’s profound misplaced emphasis on process over substance, EVTOL’s will be only used in Kit or Experimental applications... and helicopters have a bright and vibrant future!