[RomanSoldier19]

"He said all flights of under 1,000 miles will be made by all-electric aircraft within the next 15 years but battery technology needs to improve first. "

The world's largest all-electric aircraft made its maiden flight on Thursday as it flew for 30 minutes over Washington State, according to manufacturers magniX.

A solo test pilot took off at 16.02 BST (08.02 PST) in the nine seater plane and flew over Moses Lake followed by a small chase plane - landing at 16.32 BST (08.32 PST).

To develop the plane the team took a Cessna Grand Caravan - one of the most used medium-range planes in the world - and retrofitted an electric engine.

For the flight test the electric plane took off and climbed to 2,500ft, dropped to 1,000ft and then spent 25 minutes cruising over the large airport facility.

Commentators watching the plane as it flew over head said it was 'barely making any noise', with a much smaller Cessna chase plane 'twice as loud'.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What could possibly go wrong?

[max americana]

Did it take 10 hours to to charge just for the 30 minute flight?

[deoetdoctrinae]

The only real problem is the extremely long and costly extension cord.

[Bommer]

Going to build more coal firing plants to charge up these POS jets? Cant hear them flying, but you will be able to hear the passengers screaming to their deaths when suddenly they run out of a charge!

[Stosh]

I just hope they didn’t forget the jumper cables.

[EEGator]

One of the best inventions was the internal combustion engine. Until someone gets the Carnot Cycle engine, please stay away from aircraft.

[Texas Eagle]

Put some solar panels on the wings and the thing will fly forever.

[JimRed]

Batteries are currently too heavy for that application to be feasible.

[stubernx98]

40 years ago a friend at Boeing working on using fuel cells to power their plane aux systems thought we could use the technology to power a Bonanza I had. each unit would generate about 100 HP of electrical power which. found that there were electrical engines of 400 Hp that powered torpedos. So 4 units which cost about $100,000 each could work. So altitude wound not effect power. and they weighed less than normal engine. So to start you had to heat up one of the units, took about 30 minutes, then use that power to heat up the other three. Dhe idea died when we determined that the life of units was maxed at 120 hours:-(

[Joe 6-pack]

"They hope to have a 100-mile range commercial version on sale in 2021."

By the time you drive to the airport, go through screening and board the plane, you could have driven 150 miles traveling the speed limit.

[Kickass Conservative]

I’m not going to diss this. I know people who own Teslas and other Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles who love them. The Cars meet their Transportation requirements.

If they can make Electric powered Aircraft that are Economically and Scientifically feasible in the future good for them.

My respect for Human Ingenuity is boundless. God gave us a Brain for a reason.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm sure I'm not the only Freeper who's ever been on a long flight.My longest is 15:55 in the air...wheels up to wheels down.

How are electric airplanes ever gonna carry 300...or even 100...people,with luggage,for anything more than 50 miles?

[libertylover]

It’s a start.

[stuckincali]

how long is the cord for a 30 minute flight?

[Da Coyote]

in any of the planes I flew (fighters/trainers of course) 100 mile range would have me declaring min fuel at best and emergency fuel at worst.

[Psalm 73]

"They hope to have a 100-mile range commercial version on sale in 2021"

Hoping for a 100-mile range? Talk about setting a low bar!

[Scrambler Bob]

Climb like heck.

Drop the expended battery pack (glide it back to airport, could even recharge some using reverse propeller).

Then glide aircraft to destination.

I learned this approach from driving a hybrid, except I don’t drop the battery. Just coast down hills after climbing.

In this case /s becomes /ns = not serious

[central_va]

I’ll bet the CIA wants one painted all black.

[Harpotoo]

Damn I was waiting to to a real passenger airline or something worthy of a Rapper and it’s entourage!-)

[ProtectOurFreedom]

...but battery technology needs to improve first.

We've been hearing that for...um...all of our lives.