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Wright Electric Announces Wright Spirit 100-Seat Electric Aircraft ... It's envisioned for "one-hour flights."
Inside EVs ^ | Nov 08, 2021 at 8:18am ET | By: Mark Kane

Posted on 12/28/2021 12:47:37 PM PST by Red Badger

Wright Electric, an electric aircraft start-up founded in 2016, announced a new project - the Wright Spirit, which joins the previously announced Wright 1 flagship.

The Wright Spirit is a 100-passenger electric airliner envisioned for one-hour flights, equipped with four, "megawatt-class" motors. The initial design is based on the BAe 146 platform:

"The Wright Spirit aircraft design builds on the BAe 146 platform - a 100 passenger, 4-engine aircraft known for its operation out of noise-sensitive airports."

According to the press release, the prototype will begin flight testing with one electric motor (and, as we understand, three conventional engines), two electric motors in 2024 and as a full-electric aircraft by 2026.

"To develop the integrated propulsion system, Wright has assembled an innovative team of companies with expertise in generation, energy storage and propulsion design. The program now proceeds with on-going ground testing and final selection of the propulsion system. In 2023, the aircraft will begin flight testing with one all-electric propulsor. The development program will then accelerate towards flight testing with two all-electric propulsors by 2024 leading to the full-electric aircraft by 2026. "

Fo reference, the 186-seat Wright 1 is expected to have 10 electric motors (2 MW each) for a total peak output of 20 MW. But it's launch is expected no earlier than in 2030.

The power output is very high. According to Wright Electric, even a small 50-seat ATR-42 would require two 2 MW electric motors.

The company explains that it is in the process of development of 2 MW electric motors (scalable from 500 kW to 4 MW) and inverters with ultra-high efficiency and power density.

"The path was set in early 2020 with Wright’s announcement and development of their megawatt propulsion system for an all-electric commercial aircraft. Throughout the last two years, the company has been proving key components of the system including a high-efficiency, high-power density inverter and a 2 MW (2,700 HP) motor. The existing hydrocarbon-based propulsion system will be replaced with Wright’s all-electric, emissions-free propulsion system."

However, Wright Electric's press release remains silent about the energy source. Such a big aircraft would require an adequately big battery pack. The question is whether the energy density allows to build it with today's technology, and then, whether it will be viable?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Military/Veterans; Travel
KEYWORDS: aircraft; aviation
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To: SuperLuminal

Gonna need one helluva power cord................


21 posted on 12/28/2021 12:58:38 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Leaning Right
I've got a better idea..


22 posted on 12/28/2021 12:58:54 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: brownsfan
The panels aren’t particularly efficient nor are they sturdy.

AND THEY DON'T LAST VERY LONG. And when it comes tome to remove them, they are classified as 'HAZARDOUS WASTE' because of the stuff they are made of, so you can't just throw them in the landfills. Yeah, GREEN ENERGY!!!!...................................................

23 posted on 12/28/2021 1:00:47 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: dfwgator

Seems plausible.....................


24 posted on 12/28/2021 1:01:10 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

What about time queued on tarmac waiting to fly, or circling to land? Guess these might be good for taking people up, circling the airport, and landing again.


25 posted on 12/28/2021 1:01:11 PM PST by Reno89519 (FJB. Respect America, Embrace America, Buy American, Hire American.)
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To: Red Badger

Good luck when circling before you land...


26 posted on 12/28/2021 1:02:35 PM PST by Chauncey Gardiner
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To: Red Badger

100 seats all connected to a bicycle like device to supply the juice


27 posted on 12/28/2021 1:04:35 PM PST by The Louiswu (Peace to you and may God Bless you all)
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To: Red Badger

And the battery packs for the power weigh what????


28 posted on 12/28/2021 1:05:18 PM PST by Wuli
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To: ferret_airlift

They forgot to add in the story that all passengers need to be certified parachute jumpers and wear their gear.


29 posted on 12/28/2021 1:05:34 PM PST by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: dynachrome
And how long to recharge?

Folks this is your Captain. We will be landing in moments at our first stop. The bus will take you to your overnight lodging and our flight will continue in the morning after the batteries have recharged overnight.

By the way, inside tip, Hertz has rental cars that will get you to your final destination before dinner time. They use gasoline.

30 posted on 12/28/2021 1:05:46 PM PST by Dustoff45 (Forget 2024. We still need to get 2020 corrected.)
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To: Red Badger

Well, they could put lightning rods fore and aft on the exterior of the fuselage.


31 posted on 12/28/2021 1:05:51 PM PST by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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To: Red Badger

“Yeah, GREEN ENERGY!!!!”

It’s ridiculous. My youngest son was going on and on about how great solar is for energy. You can sell excess production back to the utility, (as if that would happen here in Ohio).

It was Christmas, I didn’t want to pee on his fantasy.

The young have been indoctrinated. Put the right words together, and they’ll buy it. They will eat that poop sandwich and smile like it’s prime rib.

I am so glad I don’t have that long to go.


32 posted on 12/28/2021 1:06:45 PM PST by brownsfan (It's going to take real, serious, hard times to wake the American public.)
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To: Red Badger

First flight is gonna go nonstop to the crash site.


33 posted on 12/28/2021 1:06:50 PM PST by KingLudd
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To: Red Badger

“What about parachutes for safety?”

It won’t be the 101st Airborne they’re flying.


34 posted on 12/28/2021 1:13:45 PM PST by dljordan (Slouching towards Woketopia)
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To: Red Badger

A pilot in that thing will NOT want to hear, “777, please hold your pattern for the next hour, weather does not permit approach and landing.”


35 posted on 12/28/2021 1:16:41 PM PST by SaxxonWoods
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To: Red Badger
"one-hour flights."


36 posted on 12/28/2021 1:16:45 PM PST by rfp1234 (Comitia asinorum et rhinocerum delenda sunt.)
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To: Red Badger

“This is your pilot spanking. I’m sure you’ll get a charge out of this but our aircraft wont. We’re now in a holding pattern meaning stand up, bend over, and kiss you ass goodbye.”


37 posted on 12/28/2021 1:16:53 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: rfp1234

That was a Three-Hour Tour.....A Three-Hour Tour.


38 posted on 12/28/2021 1:17:38 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: KingLudd

one hundred people with an hour to live? I expect they’d be required to get the clot shot before they boarded? I’ll bet the first pilot’s name is Reddy Kilowatt?

I’m rated to fly anything with one engine or no engine. I guess I could take over when the watts run out? Pilot to Passengers: please turn off your electronic devices-—you won’t be needing them-——and you can pick up your luggage at the local landfill.


39 posted on 12/28/2021 1:20:44 PM PST by OldWarBaby
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To: brownsfan

Yes you can. In the early days of alternate energy you could if you produced more than you needed. Companies got wise to that and made it where you can, but the equipment a person has to buy to tap in end the hoops a producer has to jump through is not worth it.


40 posted on 12/28/2021 1:21:37 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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