4 ms·

I wonder if gliders that are powered by electric motors only during takeoff and landing could be a solution here. It's not like we get very annoyed by eagles so

I wonder if gliders that are powered by electric motors only during takeoff and landing could be a solution here. It's not like we get very annoyed by eagles soaring in the sky.

TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
Takeoff and landing are probably always going to be the noisiest part thrust-powered flight.
- jorleif 9y ago
  That is a good point... So now I'm back to the giant slingshot idea.
  - icebraining 9y ago
    What about a buried rail gun, as a less explosive version of the columbiad in Jules Verne's From the Earth to the Moon? You'd step on to a circular platform, get slowly lowered into the barrel, then shot into the sky, where the wings would open :)
    - Piskvorrr 9y ago
      Acceleration profile could be the issue here.
  - stcredzero 9y ago
    Scott Addams got there first. https://goo.gl/images/dsGSgv https://goo.gl/images/dsGSgv
- FabHK 9y ago
  Takeoff, in particular (as you have to build up kinetic and potential energy). For landing, you could glide in without thrust.