[afraidfortherepublic]

Boeing's SUGAR Volt concept plane would run on gas and electricity. (Image courtesy of Boeing / July 28, 2010)

[avg_freeper]

Boeing’s SUGAR Volt concept plane would run on gas and electricity ...and unicorn farts.

[theDentist]

The hybrid-powered jetliner of the future would operate on batteries or jet fuel...

I though jetliners presently operate on batteries and jet fuel....

[Cheetahcat]

Give ma a ticket on a real Jetliner.

[Gaffer]

I'd like to see them pull this wingspan monster into an ATL airport gate.....IF this even could fly, you're talking about expanding gate size by 50% or more all over the world.....these people just don't think anymore.

This is what I call a PDOOMA .....pulled directly out of my........

[keepitreal]

Maybe they can put some solar panels on the wings and wind turbines on the top of the fuselage! That would be really coool and sooo green!

[texmexis best]

Boy oh boy, I’ll bet that sucker will hit oh...maybe 110 MPH!

Just think of it!!!

[Snickering Hound]

On a smaller scale, a competition is under way to develop by next year a personal commuter aircraft that operates on electricity or fuel cells and can average at least 100 mph on a 200-mile flight while achieving greater than 200 passenger mpg. The Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by NASA and the CAFE Foundation, offers a $1.5 million first prize for the aircraft with the best performance.

A 100mph airliner?

[valkyry1]

I will bet its a doable project they need to get the GE & Prat Whitney on-board though to integrate the propulsion systems.

[Logical me]

With the DC power the batteries would have to store it would take weeks to charge and to charge the fleet would blow every power line in the US.

[cicero2k]

I had no idea that full sized electric was being taken so seriously. I fly RC electric as I’m sure many other Freepers do. The first application would be for commuter airports. Wingspan size is no object. I fly into Coos Bay Oregon on occasion and 100 MPH with someone else driving would be comfortable and desirable.

[righttackle44]

“This is your Captain speaking. We do have a minor in-flight emergency. Would you all please give every battery you have to the flight attendants going through the cabin with the white plastic bags? Please? Please. PLEASE, WOULD YOU HURRY
IT UP!”

[antiRepublicrat]

I’m surprised there aren’t any solar cells on the thousands of square feet of wing area.

[Lazamataz]

It gives the Blue Screen of Death a WHOLE new meaning.

[CA Conservative]

Wouldn’t the weight of the batteries be a real problem?

[Noamie]

100mph?

How fast does a high altitude blimp go?

[Pessimist]

“according to NASA-funded research.”

Why is our tax momney funding reasearch for use in private industry?

Oh, and BTW, I call BS on this whole concept, unless that plane’s payload is about 100 lbs.

[jagusafr]

Icarus, line 2...

Colonel, USAFR

[longtermmemmory]

vaporware.

This is the same type of BS they released when airbus put out their monster.

[Never on my watch]

For a 200 mile flight, as I understand the article:

Let's see... Gate show time is 1 hour prior to take off. Allow another hour or so to check in an get through security. Then 2 hours for a 2 hour flight. Then one hour to go to baggage claim (if they let you bring bags) and car rental. That means it would take 5 hours to travel 200 miles, or 40 miles an hour.

12+ hours to 900 miles?

None of this takes into consideration the Concorde-type ticket prices that will surely be required.

No thanks, I'll drive.

[bunkerhill7]

Actually a wood-burning steam-powered jet is much more greener.