Electric Planes, Once a Fantasy, Start to Take to the Skies

The New York Times ^ | November 7, 2023 | Nirraj Choksi

[aculeus]

How a small plane’s 16-day trip from Vermont to Florida might foreshadow a new era of battery-powered air travel long considered implausible.

[Mouton]

I am sure they will apply for some kind of grant. Maybe they should look into air ships too. The Chinese almost circumnavigated the planet with one recently and it did not need a pilot

[ZOOKER]

Textron recently bought a company that makes an electric aircraft. I was curious so I researched it:

The Pipistrel aircraft will haul ONE passenger and 300 lbs. of luggage at 130 MPH for ONE hour (with a half hour safety reserve).

It must charge for 4 hours before it can take off again.

Pretty useless...

[TexasGator]

“But you need LOTS of torque (not horsepower)”

I think you mean to say lots of torque at low RPM.

[Iron Munro]

Liberals are such great humanitarians!

Now they are developing new aviation technology to help keep those poor little black and brown kids employed at their lithium mines.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Just don't get mixed up and confused and aim your Tesla recharging coils at hydrogen powered aircraft. With our modern woke and diverse air traffic controllers, such a mix-up is likely with predictable outcomes.

[TexasGator]

” because they make maximum torque at ANY AND ALL RPMs.”

Each type of motor has a characteristic torque curve. None make max torque at all RPMs.

[The Louiswu]

More stuff for rich people so they don’t have to touch the ground, mingle with the mob. I can see this as a limo service from the airport (private plane, private gate) to the top of the office building or hotel, but not really practical (yet) for passenger service any great distance, perhaps never will be.

[threefinger]

"I think you mean to say lots of torque at low RPM." No, I meant exactly what I wrote. Torque is irrespective of RPMs. If it factors in RPMs, it's horsepower, not torque.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

My Google is a lot more willing to let me walk the distance. And it doesn't take that much longer than an electric airplane.

[Sequoyah101]

Not all things that can be done should be done.

16 days? Going to need some improvements I think.

At this point and for a long time it is just another electric gadget.

[butlerweave]

Wright brothers territory 78 miles a day ,LOL or those magnificent men flying machines

[JCL3]

What happens when they get caught in an extended holding pattern?
____________________________________________________________

Same thing that happened to me a few weeks back when FTL had some loon bomb scare the tower....fly around until fuel says “We gotta land this sucker Mav” and then divert(to Miami for fuel).

Not enough electrons to divert?
Mr. Gravity and Mr. Math will provide a lesson learned the hard way or FAFO if you prefer.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think that Wench has already been used.

Rode hard and put up wet.

[TexasGator]

Thanks for posting WEF propaganda.

[cgbg]

These idiots better not crash on my house!

[teeman8r]

16 day trip? i think a guy walked it in 14 days.

[TexasGator]

"The Pipistrel aircraft will haul ONE passenger "

[ZOOKER]

I said "one passenger"
The other seat is for the pilot

[TexasGator]

“It must charge for 4 hours before it can take off again.”

The Skycharge charging station can be set to fast, slow, or maintenance mode. In fast charge mode, batteries can be powered in 15 to 20 minutes. The charging station can charge up to four aircraft simultaneously.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/july/25/pipistrel-shows-electric-airplane-battery-charger

[Gay State Conservative]

EV 18 wheelers...electric planes...what could *possibly* go wrong?