Love the brainstorming. As you mentioned, "decoupling" the cruise mode from the takeoff mode could make a lot of sense. One of the most innovative and feasible

Love the brainstorming. As you mentioned, "decoupling" the cruise mode from the takeoff mode could make a lot of sense. One of the most innovative and feasible solutions I've seen is from a former YC company called Talyn Air https://www.talyn.com/ https://www.talyn.com/ They have a nice animation showing the lifter and the cruiser vehicles.