Electric Islander

[KiloB]

The real world

Sorry guys, but until their is a MAJOR tech breakthrough electric aircraft can be catagorised with chocolate teapots.

A case can be made for hybrids, but not pure electric.

[SandyYoung]

I wondered how long it would take before the voice of reason was heard. We are in a time of 'electric mania' but it will pass and something else will excite us.

[n5296s]

A case can be made for hybrids

Go on then...? Hybrid makes a lot of sense for road transport - most of the time only a fraction of the engine's total power is in use, plus you can recycle energy from braking. So you can have a much smaller engine, supplemented with an electric motor and a small battery. But for flying? The engines typically run at around 75% full power for hours and hours, so where do the energy savings apply?

[CRayner]

I think we need more blue sky thinking here. Much of the power is consumed accelerating to rotation. So, a pair of steel main wheels with a longitudinally divided runway, positive on left, neg on right, possibly tricky in a crosswind, but a bit of pilot training should sort that. Then in case of unplanned flight diversion etc. a converted tanker with an enormous battery and a couple of heavy gauge dangling power leads for in flight recharging. Perhaps this could all be augmented by a massive elastic catapult.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by KiloB

Sorry guys, but until there is a MAJOR tech breakthrough ...

Didn't they say something similar about Wilbur and Orville? They weren't saying it for long.

[Random SLF]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

Didn't they say something similar about Wilbur and Orville?

Distant relatives of mine (I'm a Wright too) but we don't like to shout about it. EV manufacturers desperately need the kudos of an actual electric-powered scheduled flight - it'd be publicity gold. I really hope it works.