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?
rubber band power source....
Trouble is that idea is already being secretly used to make up for power shortages in windmills when the wind dies down and solar panels when the day in dark and cloudy.
All those millions of rubber bands have been taken. Supplies are gone.
RE It won’t be the 101st Airborne they’re flying.
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Fun fact: Jimi Hendrix enlisted and served in the 101st Airborne. Not for a long time but he did it. 1961-1962.
After his 26th airborne jump, he suffered an ankle injury.
Nah, strap them into hamster cages........
“You want on time and in one piece, get that wheel running.”
Never underestimate the capacity of the gullible to be induced to accept electric planes.
Every passenger has bicycle pedals to generate power so they don’t crash.
Rumor has it that there will be full capacity in-air recharging via deployable wind turbines on the tail.
Some people have the capacitance to believe anything.
That’s one way to be first in line for a landing strip.
Rumor has it the Government has contracted with TESLA to provide a requisite-sized fleet of Electrical "ReJuicer 1000" Tankers for emergency in-air recharging capability at every airport in the USA.
Funding will be included in the "BuildBackEvenBetter" bill now moving through Congress.
Funding disbursement will be managed by AOC and "the rest of the Squad".
You are going to have to change your name before any airline would have you as a passenger.
“65 minutes and you dead meat.”
For your education:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/
The Flintstones got a lot of comedy right.
I forgot about Barney’s copter.
So, "Lighten up, Francis!".
“Much of what I post is tongue-in-cheek humor. It seems you are taking way too much seriously. It also seems to be selective since you didn’t make that response to the many other posts in the same vein.
So, “Lighten up, Francis!”.”
All I did was correct your post with a one sentence post. You are the one that has gone off on a tangent.
All I did was correct your post with a one sentence post.
There wasn't any content in my post that required correction. I was making no attempt to transfer knowledge. It was just a snide and baseless remark, just like numerous others in the thread.
Is it like the CSS Huntley? A crank running down the middle of the aisle for the passengers to operate the generator?
Based on the picture? Defintely total BS. Electric powered “jet” engines? They weren’t even trying to pretend that they had a viable plan. At least draw props powered by electric motors if they want to run a scam.
“The question is whether the energy density allows to build it with today’s technology, and then, whether it will be viable?”
They still have a way to go. Using the standard (but optimistic) value for energy density of Lithium Ion batteries (150 W-hrs/kg), they’ll need 100,000 lbs of batteries for the 7000 kwh required for a one hour flight (using cruise numbers and typical conversion factors). The maximum weight of the BAC-146 is also about 100,000 lbs. - so not even close with conventional Lithium Ions.
While they will have a significant offset due to not needing fuel and probably some offset in engine weight, they’ll still likely need closer to having batteries capable of closer to 1000 W-hrs/kg (or more). Perhaps they know of something out there?
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