Posted on 12/27/2002 8:26:38 AM PST by gubamyster
By Ken Kaye Staff Writer Posted December 26 2002
Within the next few years, you may be able to avoid big airport hassles by taking tiny jets from one small airfield to another.
The cost would be close to that of a coach seat.
If NASA has its way, thousands of jet-propelled taxicabs will be used to ease the overburdened airline hub system and take advantage of about 5,000 smaller, slower airports.
The agency best known for sending space shuttles into orbit has embarked on a $69 million, five-year program to launch what is officially called the Small Aircraft Transportation System, or SATS.
At the heart of the program: dainty jets designed to hold about as many occupants as a sport-utility vehicle. A typical cabin would have two pilot seats, four club seats and a lavatory in the back.
Their tiny jet engines would be technological marvels, fuel efficient yet powerful enough to propel a plane to speeds up to 400 mph and altitudes of 41,000 feet.
"We want to demonstrate that it makes sense to think of small aircraft as an alternative to scheduled commercial airlines for trips between 200 and 1,000 miles," said Keith Henry, spokesman for NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Eclipse has already done the math and is is profitable.
Unfortunately the 500 needs a new engine, as the Williams unit proved underpowered. It hasn't made a flight since its first one earlier in the year. I still think the concept is solid, and if Vern Rayburn can't get it in the air, I don't know of anyone else who could.
There is "profitable" and there is "cost would be close to that of a coach seat". I imagine there are many people who would be willing to pay a premium for this service. I simply do not see it competing with the likes of Southwest - trained commercial pilots don't work for cheap, and with a small craft like this, the labor cost is only spread among four passengers instead of over one hundred.
Is there a major airline that is not already in bankruptcy or close to it, or not receiving massive gov't subsidy?
Anybody know?
I don't think I could stand to live in such a frightened state.
Airways won't be needed in the future. Using GPS and computers IFR flights can fly great circle routes now. Airways are related to VOR navigation technology which is becoming obsolete.
The reason microjets will not be commercially viable is because of the Democrat / Lawyer symbiotic relationship. The Democrats feed off of the profits of product liability awards.
Cessna is one of the very few surviving airplane manufacturers. They were sued by a wet-behind-the-ears 172 pilot who stalled his plane when his seat slid backwards during a botched landing. No one died in the accident. Result: a jury awarded the plaintiffs $480 million dollars.
The legal leeches make many technologies impossible to implement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.