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70 Comments
- Chairboy, on 06/29/2008, -1/+22Every plane is just a glider with a towing system attached.
- Chairboy, on 06/29/2008, -2/+19Usually these posts are quickly followed by legions of comments talking about "I'm surrounded by people who can barely DRIVE now they'll be able to fly??!?!! lololol!L!l1froflcopter I'm so funny!". I'm a pilot, and while I like the idea that some folks might think that makes me special, in reality the only thing it means is that I took the time and effort to go out and get the training.
Anyone can learn to fly. It's like driving a car.... that can also go up and down. There are added complexities, but they're ACHIEVABLE.
There are planes that have been around for decades that are super easy to fly, most famously perhaps the Ercoupe, a plane that doesn't even have rudder pedals (it uses a clever bit of ratio math to simplify the controls to make a plane that's almost unspinnable and unstallable). That's a plane that came out 70 years ago, so there's lots of stuff we can do to make friendly planes today if there's the demand.
But as long as people assume that only the Chuck Yeagers of the world are clever enough to handle "one of those fierce machines", interest in General Aviation will remain low.
Here's hoping that can change sometime. After all, if a fat computer guy like me can do it.... - scotticus, on 06/29/2008, -0/+15Personal aircraft really shouldn't by flying through thunderstorms, gas or no gas.
- element4l, on 06/29/2008, -3/+15Unnecessary, comma =/
- inactive, on 06/29/2008, -0/+11You're the only troll here.
- Sornos, on 06/29/2008, -0/+9"More people get killed flying small planes than on any other job"
I don't think so, Tim. - trghpy, on 06/29/2008, -0/+9Hmm... 1.21 giga watts / 745 (watts per HP) = 1,622,636.73 HP
TURBO MODE! - mijelh, on 06/29/2008, -1/+6At which point you start calling an aeroplane with an engine "glider" instead of "light aircraft" is purely arbitrary. By the way, his comment implied that gliders (motor gliders, in fact) have some kind of disadvantage over other kinds of aeroplanes, when it's actually the other way around.
- itspuddingtime, on 06/29/2008, -0/+5I'm not going to look it up, but I'd wager more people die in traffic accidents than in small plane crashes.
- dhughes, on 06/29/2008, -1/+6 If you ever do get a driver's license you're in for a surprise if you press the right pedal and pull up.
- phreak79, on 06/28/2008, -5/+10Sounds pretty cool. I wonder if they could stick some solar paint or something on it to give it the juice.
- trghpy, on 06/29/2008, -1/+6a 20kw generator is less efficient than a 2000kw generator.
+ fuel transportation costs, 1 source vs 1000s
+ infrastructure costs, electric grid costs less to maintain than fuel trucks
+ depending where you are, up to 20% of the power is from a green source
+ if your near the right power company, you can find 100% green power sources - scotticus, on 06/29/2008, -1/+6Here's to hoping personal aviation remains a niche... I want to learn to fly and it's nice that the skies in the USA are relatively uncrowded.
- aenima987, on 06/29/2008, -2/+6But isn't most electricity generated from coal, gas, etc.? Am I missing something here?
- jnordb, on 06/29/2008, -1/+5Dugg for admitting to being a fat computer guy...:)
- mijelh, on 06/29/2008, -0/+4My old Scheibe SF25C - 2000 aeroplane has a fuel consumption of 41'7 miles per gallon (2'4 Gal/hour at 100mph). I doubt your car gets even close to that, so get some documentation before start talking crap.
- finker, on 06/29/2008, -1/+5I fly for an airline. It's not a glamorous or well-paying job by any means, but do you know what the best thing about it is? Rarely having to deal with the weekend warriors of general aviation.
Before I flew for an airline, I was a flight instructor. The amount of idiocy that I saw happen on a daily basis would boggle my mind, and on the weekends or when the tower was closed, it'd just get worse. I realize that not every GA pilot is a bonehead, and not every pilot flying for an airline is the sharpest tool (frankly, some of them are the tools), but I'd take flying for an airline over flying GA any day of the week.
But, whatever, you're right: any idiot can learn to fly, but not every idiot should fly. The same applies to a lot of things in this world. However, with so many flight schools popping up all over the place these days, they'll literally train anyone. They don't care how old, stupid, or incompetent the person may be, they'll take their money and manage to pop out another pilot, even if that means spoon feeding them information and dragging them through their program. They're in it for the money, and as long as their 250 hour God's gift to aviation world instructors can scrape up a few more hours in their logbooks, they don't care and will keep on doing it.
Just as a side note, anyone reading this that flies GA, please don't pop your head in the cockpit and ask to see the registration and airworthiness; we're just going to laugh at you. And, after a flight, please don't tell us that you're going to report us to the FAA because your silly altimeter watch apparently showed something idiotic. I recently had that happen after a flight with the FAA sitting in the jump seat doing a route check. I gave the passenger the biggest "what the *****" look I could, and before I could say anything, the FAA inspector introduced himself to the passenger and started to laugh. Please don't be "that guy". - sungsam, on 06/29/2008, -2/+5Actually, the comma is fine. It's missing a dash, however.
"First commercially-produced, electric aircraft coming soon."
Pretend the adjective was "purple" instead of "commercially-produced." You wouldn't write, "First purple electric aircraft coming soon," without the comma, would you?
Nope. - Chairboy, on 06/29/2008, -0/+3> Don't speak on the subject of how easy it is to fly until you are a credited pilot.
What does this mean? I've been flying for years and have my own plane, which specific 'credit' are you looking for?
Goodness, my post seems to have drawn out quite a few pilots upset that I'm revealed the big secret: That we're not Lords of Creation and Masters Among Men, we're just folks who love flight and took the time to learn how. Lots of ego in this thread, it seems, by people either unwilling to be honest with themselves or worried that everyone else will figure out The Big Secret. - boydrew, on 06/29/2008, -1/+4no. i can read
- inactive, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2I really want to be a recreational pilot, but I'm half colorblind =( yeah, just like in little miss sunshine. I can kick the ass out of any flight simulator, though
- mijelh, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2where I live, 80% of electricity is either hidro or wind generated.
- blatantly, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2"having no control when the engines bursts into flames at that height scares me"
Yes a fire would be scary however as this is really a glider it's designed to turn off the engine once you get high enough anyway, and there's usually enough juice to turn it back on again if you start getting low.
The idea of an engine stopping mid air, or not having an engine at all seems to put people off gliders, but I'd rather be in an aircraft deisgned to fly without one!
Gliders have glide ratios like 40:1, so if you're at 5000 feet, you can glide 30 miles/48km, and that's allowing 1000' to set up landing.
"Are you allowed to have a parachute?"
It's very common to fly gliders with parachutes. - Chairboy, on 07/01/2008, -0/+2I respect your opinion and see your viewpoint while still believing that this is a manageable concern through technology and training.
Back to my first question, can you clarify what you meant by 'don't speak on the subject of how easy it is to fly until you are a credited pilot'? For the record, I learned out of Santa Monica airport and Van Nuys was my second home, so I have some passing familiarity with crowded airways, if that's your concern. - dafunkmonster, on 06/29/2008, -1/+3Shhh, you're going to get dugg down by people who love being active members of the "green movement". They don't like people injecting logic to undermine their silly fanciful ideas.
- finker, on 06/29/2008, -0/+2"I know statistically flying is safe, but having no control when the engines bursts into flames at that height scares me."
If you go to a school with a good maintenance program, you're unlikely to have any issues with flying. The worst thing (knock on wood) that I've personally seen happen is the seat in a Cessna break while in flight. Then again, my student was 260lbs and we were doing spins, so that seat was probably being pushed a bit anyway.
"Are you allowed to have a parachute?"
There's no regulation that says you can't have a parachute (in fact some regulations require you have one if you're doing aerobatics and such), but you'll get some funny looks wearing one, and I can't imagine it's very comfortable flying around in a Cessna in the summer while wearing one. If you're that concerned, I'd look into flying a Cirrus--they have a parachute built into the airframe of the plane. Have a look at http://www.cirrusdesign.com/about/safety/caps.aspx if you're curious. - Laminarcissus, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2Combining this with the solar boat story we saw a while back, I really think that the biggest benefit of electric personal transportation products will be simplicity and noise. We've almost tuned it out, but can you imagine a day at the beach or a lake where suddenly you have removed the engine noise from prop planes overhead, boats, or especially personal watercraft? How about ATVs or snowmobiles in the winter? Also, the motor system on electric vehicles is much more simple, much less to go wrong. Something that seems nice in an aitplane.
So low emissions is great, but I'd want to push the real immediate quality-of-life angle more.
(Also, is it possible to have just one story about any sort of light aircraft without invoking the "we all fly to work" thing? Please?) - Rexzephon, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2I have my pilot's license. However, I've never owned a driver's license. I'm not sure if that's cool or just kinda sad. Or both.
- inactive, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Its pretty cool but there are some good points made above. It is a "powered glider" after all. I have to wonder what the top speed is, it has to be low. And you would be limited to cross country flight based on whether or not you have enough solar power to charge the batteries. It may be use full in the southwestern US but only a toy anywhere else. And it does take more energy to manufacture batteries than you get back form them - just a fact.
- ZodiacKiller, on 06/29/2008, -3/+4I got news for you.
You're a moron. - kkDonut, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2What? There's been electric self-launch sailplanes available for a while now....
http://www.windward-performance.com/news.php
http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm/english/produ ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alisport_Silent_2_Tar ...
still very cool though. - bratterscain, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2No, it's basically a glider.
- trghpy, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Well, I can't say I'm impressed, but i do understand the numbers, its hard to get enough power within the weight limits.
I think when some of the new experimental solar panels become reality we'll be in great shape for air travel.
It'll be slow but green...
We'll definably have to turn more towards a flying wing concept to keep the weight to wing to solar panel surface area ratio correct. - kenplaysviola, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2I would really love to learn to fly a plane, but the idea of being thousands of feet in the air and possibly losing control freaks me out. Are you allowed to have a parachute? I know statistically flying is safe, but having no control when the engines bursts into flames at that height scares me. At least with a car that's breaking down on the road, I can pull over on the side of the road, or worst case, jump out of my flaming car.
- maximatron, on 06/29/2008, -2/+3Can you prove him wrong instead of being a moron yourself ?
- plaunie, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Never going to work:
gasoline = 12,222 Whr/kg
Best LiPo batteries are about 250 Whr/kg
Say you want to run a 100hp engine for 1 hour. (just because its electric does not mean it isn't going to take 100 hp to move the plane through the air. It'll take (including efficiencies: gas about 25%, electric about 85%): 100hp * 746 W/hp * 1hr = 74600 Whr
or
24kg gasoline
or
350kg batteries
...damn physics keeps getting in the way of good marketing - muniak, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2You're *****?
- LostinService, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1I'm with you there. I'm an instrument rated private pilot working on his commercial license, and I'm taking my driver's road test in a month because here in nyc there's really no need for a car.
- inactive, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1I won't be flying on one!
- liuite, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1this is indeed a powered glider. I am not knocking gliders since I love sailing. both wind and thermo are alternatives to fossil fuel.
- hollyminkowski, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1This is an interesting electric glider...it would be even cooler if they could come up with a battery that allowed the performance of a simple small plane such as a Cessna 172 or similar.
Solar powered planes have been built..they are enormous fragile things. There has been speculation that they could be used to replace satellites for some applications. Put them up 60,000ft and just let them circle while serving as an rf relay station.
An odd thing that everyone who flies notices is that at times while driving a car they get the urge to pull back on the steering wheel and lift off :-) - phenolholic, on 06/29/2008, -1/+2we still haven't developed the perfect electric car, and you expect me to fly in this thing?
- thatsmyaibo, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1For 'lyfe'? Don't you mean at the max 8 years?
- davecachia, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1As a pilot, this is a great idea.
The fuel charges right now are upto 1.60/L +.
Sucks for the people looking to become pilots. - Ryvenn, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1Wrong, fishermen have the largest number of injuries and fatalities followed by linesmen.
Light aircraft pilots having the most dangerous job? Where did you get that?
Besides, are you aware of how many people die on the roads every year?
In the end, the general skill of pilots comes down to the difficulty of obtaining a license. It's not as though every retard and their grandma would instantly be allowed to fly. - thatsmyaibo, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1@itspuddingtime
I agree. Which is why I think having too many people in the skies would make it much more dangerous. - cschmitz, on 06/30/2008, -0/+1I don't think it would really be all that hard for people to learn to fly. I don't even think that the general person couldn't handle learning how to fly. I think that people would be able to adapt and learn pretty easily, and that the increase of pilots would also push development in personal aircraft development and drive manufacturers to think of ways to make the technology a lot more user friendly.
What I would worry about is expanding the area that accidents can happen in as well as the frequency. Its true that people could be trained to be safer, but by increasing the number of people in the air will increase the amount of airborne accidents regardless of how safe people are being. That's just statistics. The other scary thing is that the places where accidents happen is also broadened. Since cars are on the road and within physical boundaries most of the accidents happen on or near the road. If you're in the sky, there are no physical boundaries. You have the possibility of more accidents happening anywhere whether they are responsible or irresponsible accidents. - GiggleStick, on 06/29/2008, -0/+1Rock on mijelh! Do you think we'll all fit in Iceland? Bjork is hot!
- aussiessuck, on 06/30/2008, -0/+0electricity is generated by beating baby fur seals.
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