OT Don't quite see how this'll work???

Well if drone can fly by battery power why can't planes eventually run on batteries.

harry explained :

A long (very) extension lead?

I have not read it but to my knowledge Airbus have had an electric light aircraft flying for some years. it had a somewhat limited range though so was only for research into battery tech. Brian

Well, as far as I can tell, the Outlander PHEV generates electricity and uses it to power electric motors when the batteries are 'flat'. Yes, I know, at first it seems inefficient but going by the consumption I'm getting on long trips- when the distance travelled on battery is tiny fraction of the trip or I've not been able to 'plug in', it seems remarkably good compared to a comparable petrol 4x4 which is actually lighter (but admittedly older).

You can also charge the batteries from the engine.

Why not? You need a lot less power to stay in the air than to get off the ground in the first place.

On Wed, 29 Nov 2017 08:54:28 -0800 (PST), harry coalesced the vapors of human experience into a viable and meaningful comprehension...

The images don't match the copy, they relate to different stories, albeit Airbus related.

They already can. Just not for very long

Indeed. criusie power on an efficient airframe is the same as the glide slope in terms of ft lb per second descent..but to gain altudude you need a lot more.

You calcualate 1000fpm and turn that into watts per lb...

Graham. explained on 29/11/2017 :

The trick is that all of the passenger seats will be equipped with pedals, connected to generators, which then keep the batteries charged.

In message , Brian Reay writes

Just for interest, because there's no way I can afford one, why are these relatively heavy hybrid 4 x 4's so lacking in towing performance compared with a petrol or diesel vehicle? The diesel Outlander is lighter, but can tow much more.

Nah, there will be a fancy gym with all sorts of treadmills, rowing machines, etc

Because towing can require a fairly constant power output. A hybrid can provide bursts of high power, but not sustained. They are basically town vehicles.

I well remember hiring an early Prius. MPG around town was amazing. But on a long journey with a full load trying to keep up with motorway speeds, MPG was abysmal - far worse than an equivalent performance petrol car. let alone diesel.

Solar Impulse 2, did OK

This is where engineering and population spectacularly fail to intersect.

Given the location of most busy airports, a rapid ascent is essential in the event of a problem developing (as the film "Sully" demonstrates).

Now if airports were much more coastal (given the one thing the UK has is a practically infinite coastline) then it would make sense.

But it's interesting that the UK has tended to site it's big cities markedly inland.

A good way to avoid DVT :-)

There's always Sumburgh. Both end of the runway have the sea!

perhaps because people drink fresh water?

You do know why it flew in the direction it did? You won't see a return journey from it. Hot air balloons did it quicker with more passengers.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

OK, but my first LR 110 with its ancient, low powered but utterly reliable 2.25 petrol engine could barely reach motorway speeds on its own, let alone keep up.

It was rated for towing 3.5 tons and we towed lower weights with it fine. I always thought that the towing rating was based on structural strength and weight of the towing vehicle rather than power.

A heavy hybrid 4 x 4 might not be for me, it seems.

You do know why planes follow the routes they do don't you ?