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Given that we are probably heading into an economy where energy will get more and more expensive (at least temporarily, due to a potential oil crunch coming), n

Given that we are probably heading into an economy where energy will get more and more expensive (at least temporarily, due to a potential oil crunch coming), not sure how flying will be an economical way of transport.

samsonradu 8y ago
Can you elaborate? Why might a oil crunch be coming?
- deathhand 8y ago
  Not parent but https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil
  - slfnflctd 8y ago
    They've been talking about peak oil since the late 1950s, and just about every single prediction about it has been wrong. I got caught up in the hype about it 5-10 years ago, and it took a while before I realized it was mostly a garden variety doomsday cult. [Yes there is such a thing as peak oil, and we may have even already hit it, but it's not going to destroy civilization as some have loudly declared.] Gasoline consumption is not going up the way it used to, and there apparently is a whole lot more oil than a lot of people thought-- I'm guessing due to a combination of countries not providing correct numbers (it's a national security issue after all), new oilfield discoveries and new extraction techniques. Add in more efficient vehicles and alternative energy sources, and you quickly realize the worst that's going to happen is some gradually increased prices for products & services most closely tied to the current cost of fuel.
al_ramich 8y ago
electric would be the way it goes and you could argue that flying drones flying at a constant speed could be more economical than a self-driving car limited by the current road infrastructure.
- bunderbunder 8y ago
  At least with current technology, electric makes the energy consumption problem worse rather than better, on account of the poor energy density compared to combustible fuel. The difference is manageable with cars, but with aircraft, where you have to take all that extra weight and pull it up in addition to moving it around, things get to be pretty stark.
tim333 8y ago
Solar/wind are getting cheaper, battery powered flying is starting to be a thing like the existing Alpha Electro https://electrek.co/2018/04/27/all-electric-trainer-plane-airworthiness-certification-faa-us/ https://electrek.co/2018/04/27/all-electric-trainer-plane-ai... and proposed airliners https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/28/easyjet-will-fly-electric-planes-in-next-ten-years-news/ https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/28/easyjet-will-fly-electric-...

samsonradu 8y ago

Can you elaborate? Why might a oil crunch be coming?

deathhand 8y ago
Not parent but https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil
- slfnflctd 8y ago
  They've been talking about peak oil since the late 1950s, and just about every single prediction about it has been wrong. I got caught up in the hype about it 5-10 years ago, and it took a while before I realized it was mostly a garden variety doomsday cult. [Yes there is such a thing as peak oil, and we may have even already hit it, but it's not going to destroy civilization as some have loudly declared.] Gasoline consumption is not going up the way it used to, and there apparently is a whole lot more oil than a lot of people thought-- I'm guessing due to a combination of countries not providing correct numbers (it's a national security issue after all), new oilfield discoveries and new extraction techniques. Add in more efficient vehicles and alternative energy sources, and you quickly realize the worst that's going to happen is some gradually increased prices for products & services most closely tied to the current cost of fuel.

al_ramich 8y ago

electric would be the way it goes and you could argue that flying drones flying at a constant speed could be more economical than a self-driving car limited by the current road infrastructure.

bunderbunder 8y ago
At least with current technology, electric makes the energy consumption problem worse rather than better, on account of the poor energy density compared to combustible fuel. The difference is manageable with cars, but with aircraft, where you have to take all that extra weight and pull it up in addition to moving it around, things get to be pretty stark.

tim333 8y ago

Solar/wind are getting cheaper, battery powered flying is starting to be a thing like the existing Alpha Electro https://electrek.co/2018/04/27/all-electric-trainer-plane-airworthiness-certification-faa-us/ https://electrek.co/2018/04/27/all-electric-trainer-plane-ai... and proposed airliners https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/28/easyjet-will-fly-electric-planes-in-next-ten-years-news/ https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/28/easyjet-will-fly-electric-...