Maybe I can start flying again?

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Maybe I can start flying again?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We have had electric powered gliders for some years. Enough range to get you home when the thermals stop.
There are lots of others flying and in development.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_electric_aircraft
Cheers,
Peter

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I don't think that I can afford my own plane or more so, the lessons to fly one, but it's good to know that there are advancements in the flying industry. We just need the commercial businesses to be more environmentally responsible.

peter67 · Guru

Buzz I'm a life long aviation fan and spent many hours flying sailplanes and powered aircraft in my younger days. As much as EV power is debated in these forums, and I believe it is a worthy effort if it can be done at a commercially viable price point, it's not going to happen unless there is a quantum leap in battery technology.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Comercial aircraft (and trucks, trains and ships) will use hydrogen and a fuel cell to produce electricity, so battery requirements will be relatively small.
The Wiki link I posted shows 3 development examples of this.
Cheers,
Peter

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I think it will be horses for courses. Smaller battery powered planes might be used for short hops whereas hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen powered planes will be needed for longer trips and larger planes.

The move away from hub centres will also help with the flight distances.

On another post I mentioned that there were many developments in different types of batteries. Some of these technologies might produce lighter, smaller batteries which hold bigger charges for their size. The point is that technology is only going to get better if there is a demand and that demand might come when countries include aviation in their carbon accounting.