Plug-in plane takes off

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Airbus.E-Fan 2.0
http://www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/innovation-environment/e-fan-the-electric-plane.html

The aircraft manufacturer has unveiled a plug-in plane at the Paris Air Show.

Achieving speeds of up to 136mph, the E-Fan 2.0 prototype is, so far, able to stay airborne for one hour. The two-seater is also CO2 emission-free and nearly silent in flight.

Weighing less than half a tonne, the revolutionary flyer is outfitted with lithium-ion polymer batteries in its 31ft wings, as well as dual electric motors for a total power of 60 kilowatts.


The company hopes that the all-electric model will enter service around the end of 2017 or early 2018.

At least initially, flight schools are expected to be the main customers for the aircraft, though a larger four-seat E-Fan 4.0 is scheduled for 2019.

At the Paris show, the 2.0 prototype will participate in flying displays throughout the event while, in Airbus's exhibition area, a full-scale model of the production version will be on display.

VIDEO
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...r-s-nearly-silent-flight.html#v-3592058924001

 

[Ferrum Master]

WUT? Cri-Cri ?

http://www.electravia.fr/mc15eEng.php

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

@Ferrum Master

i changed the thread title ....nice one

 

[Caring1]

http://www.electravia.fr/mc15eEng.php

This one's wings don't look big enough to support a grown adult in the air, it looks like a toy.
As for the plug in plane, I'll wait for a longer designed flying time and ejector seats with parachutes thank you.

 

[Ferrum Master]

This one's wings don't look big enough to support a grown adult in the air, it looks like a toy.
As for the plug in plane, I'll wait for a longer designed flying time and ejector seats with parachutes thank you.

You are spoiled, because extra wing space is for carrying capacity, usually meant for carpet bombing. If a deltaplan does the job without engine, why this wouldn't? F-85 Goblin? More wings, more drag, need more power, the thing is calculated fine and all things considered to create exactly such plane with it's mission and specs - to carry one person... cheap. Cri Cri is actually a very old and mature design.

 

[cheesy999]

WUT? Cri-Cri ?

http://www.electravia.fr/mc15eEng.php

I'm not doing my maths wrong here am I because I think this plane has a range of 3 1/2 minutes at full throttle from the specs on that website?

 

[Ferrum Master]

I'm not doing my maths wrong here am I because I think this plane has a range of 3 1/2 minutes at full throttle from the specs on that website?

The graph give 404 error, can't tell... but above it says it can do 25mins at 110km/h

 

[Steevo]

Equal to the energy in about 4 US gallons of gasoline, or 3 US gallons of jet fuel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_gallon_equivalent

So burn 120 pounds of coal at .95pounds per Kwh to recharge, plus line losses, conversion losses so probably closer to 140 pounds of coal to not burn 3 gallons of jet fuel.

http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=667&t=2

Seems reasonable.


I get that these projects are cool, I find that part cool too. But I lose complete interest when they start to talk about revolutionizing an industry that has a huge budget and would love to save money, projects like this don't scale. Imaging standing in the airport and your single seat flight costs $1500 due to it being solar charged electric, and it will take another 5 hours due to all the other aircraft charging, and that is only if we have no clouds.

If you want to get really interesting make a plutonium oxide driven plane (PuO in ceramic pellet form will alpha decay over many years, and can be shielded with a piece of paper) that generates direct mechanical energy with a sterling engine, and peliters to run the prop and other stuff. 5000W per Kg, and as much shielding as batteries require at 10X the energy density. Plus it works day, night, rain, shine, cold (works better in the cold ) and has as few moving parts.

 

[silkstone]

What's the energy cost in refining/creating PuO? Is it just as simple as reprocessing nuclear fuel? What quantities can it be made in?

[Edit] Low yield Nuclear weapons (~ 1kiloton) can easily be made from this? Maybe not such a good aviation fuel.