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Old 7th Dec 2014, 06:01
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Wizofoz
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
Posts: 4,785
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Pipe-dream.

The configuration makes no sense- interference drag is why we stopped making Biplanes, let alone TRI-planes!!

Ducted fan is of no real advantage at what will be normal propellor speeds.

THEN there's the hybrid concept- simply not applicable to aircraft. Hybrid works in cars because they spend most of their time cruising at a small fraction of the engines available power, and the vehicle accelerates and decelerates throughout the trip, so having electrics that are efficient over a wide range of speeds, and an engine optimised to one speed as a generator makes sense and CAN lead to much greater fuel efficiency- plus plug-ins have the option of being short-range electric-only vehicles when needed (though the cost and carbon needed to charge them has to then be factored in).

In an aircraft where you spend the vast majority of your time at one speed and one power, which is a significant percentage of available power, the losses associated with using one fuel to run an engine to charge a battery to run another engine very quickly negates any notional advantage.

I can see a future for all-electric aircraft as trainers and recreational aircraft- indeed an electric self-launching glider is on my retirement wish-list, but as a means of transport, it makes no sense.
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