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That is awesome, but what's the point in using batteries? It's just a sop to the environment that drastically limits the device's potential. The fact is that hy

That is awesome, but what's the point in using batteries? It's just a sop to the environment that drastically limits the device's potential. The fact is that hydrocarbon fuel is still the best, highest density energy transport we have. Batteries are still weak and, especially for flight, awfully heavy. Keep the electric motors but ditch the batteries and replace it with a small gas turbine generator. For the same weight, you could probably increase the flight time by a factor of 10, well beyond the willingness of most people to sit in that thing ...

tjmc 17y ago
Agreed. Legally, GA aircraft under visual flight rules must have at least 30 mins reserve so currently this thing wouldn't be allowed to fly! Battery powered aircraft aren't completely impractical though. This Chinese electric 2 seater has a 40KW brushless electric motor, 400lbs of payload and up to 3 hours of endurance: http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/lsa/sport/electrics-emerge http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/lsa/sport/electrics-e... The downside is it's slow (60mph), but if the engineering challenges for lithium-air batteries are ever solved you'd have a serious competitor to piston aircraft. Not to mention that electric engines are far more reliable than piston ICEs and you don't have to worry about fuel fires (just don't use Sony batteries ;-)
- sailormoon 17y ago
  electric engines are far more reliable than piston ICEs So are turbines, by a wide margin. Electric motors powered by a gas turbine would be a pretty damn reliable system. I do not trust reciprocating engines as far as I can throw them! I know the perverse regulatory environment that has lead to the stagnation of technology in GA but still. Not completely dead, though, it seems - thanks for that link. Most impressive. $89k! Sheesh, that's almost regular-joe level!
blhack 17y ago
Exactly. The very sad reality is that humans really just were not meant to fly; we're too heavy. Luckily for us, we're smart enough to burn some hydrocarbons and lift our heave bodies off of the ground. Artificially limiting this ability using batteries is just silly. If the tech was practical (it isn't right now) or if this project was about developing batteries (it doesn't sound like it is) then fine, but can we pretty please see a gas version?

tjmc 17y ago

Agreed. Legally, GA aircraft under visual flight rules must have at least 30 mins reserve so currently this thing wouldn't be allowed to fly! Battery powered aircraft aren't completely impractical though. This Chinese electric 2 seater has a 40KW brushless electric motor, 400lbs of payload and up to 3 hours of endurance: http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/lsa/sport/electrics-emerge http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/lsa/sport/electrics-e... The downside is it's slow (60mph), but if the engineering challenges for lithium-air batteries are ever solved you'd have a serious competitor to piston aircraft. Not to mention that electric engines are far more reliable than piston ICEs and you don't have to worry about fuel fires (just don't use Sony batteries ;-)

sailormoon 17y ago
electric engines are far more reliable than piston ICEs So are turbines, by a wide margin. Electric motors powered by a gas turbine would be a pretty damn reliable system. I do not trust reciprocating engines as far as I can throw them! I know the perverse regulatory environment that has lead to the stagnation of technology in GA but still. Not completely dead, though, it seems - thanks for that link. Most impressive. $89k! Sheesh, that's almost regular-joe level!

blhack 17y ago

Exactly. The very sad reality is that humans really just were not meant to fly; we're too heavy. Luckily for us, we're smart enough to burn some hydrocarbons and lift our heave bodies off of the ground. Artificially limiting this ability using batteries is just silly. If the tech was practical (it isn't right now) or if this project was about developing batteries (it doesn't sound like it is) then fine, but can we pretty please see a gas version?