This is exactly why we will see gensets/APU's (possibly turbines) providing electric charge to a battery and have the prime mover, i.e. the thing spinning the prop, be an electric motor. My prediction is that this will happen much before we'll see smaller turbines. It's going that way with cars rapidly already (Chevy Volt, Prius, Fisker etc). Electric motors are brilliant prime movers with almost no drawbacks: much higher power-to-weight ratio than turbines, almost no moving parts, TBO only limited by bearing life, don't need oxygen and can therefore fly high etc.
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 17th October 2012 at 00:18.