PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - What will recreational flying be like in a few decades?
Old 23rd Nov 2015, 11:28
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foxmoth
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
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It will never be all electric. Look at it practically, you go touring fly one leg of 400nm then what ? Sit there waiting while you recharge your battery?
Electric aircraft are already in development, I know one of the guys involved and he was saying that battery technology is advancing today in the same way computers were 20 years ago, charging is already becoming much faster and I can see that you will fly your 4-500+ mile leg then by the time you have emptied your bladder and had a coffee the battery is fully charged for the next leg.
As for all the automation, yes it will be there in your Cirrus derivative and available if wanted in your 6 seat RV52 which will cruise at 250kts, be stressed to +\- 16g and still handle like a dream! Of course aircraft like the dH82a and Chippie will still be around, a few flown by setups like Shuttleworth with the origional engines but the majority having replaced these with electric due to the price of fuel and oil.
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