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The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

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Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#11
Interesting decision to build the whole aircraft instead of the propulsion system only. I wonder what the decision process was between retrofit of existing turboprop frame vs. build from the ground up? I would expect the level of effort and certification to be much higher building from scratch even though you get complete control.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#12
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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I feel as a civilization we are further behind in battery technology than we should be at this point.

It's chemistry, not technology. Motive engines that can suck ~70% of their reactant mass from the atmosphere have a horrifyingly unfair advantage.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#13
The interior of the plane is clearly designed by an engineer. They stripped everything down to save weight, passenger comfort be dammed. The seats don't even look comfortable.

They need to hire an actual designer, if the plane weighs 0.5% more but has actual human usability that's worth it.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#14
post #7
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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> 500 miles with hybrid system > the grueling two hour drives What country are you in, and perhaps more importantly, what roads are you driving on?

Gotta be Germany and the Autobahn. The questions really are:

What car are you driving?

How are you not dead?

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#15
post #6
post #4

From the video: Range: 125 miles all electric 500 miles with hybrid system (electric + conventional turbo prop)

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Can I be the one to make the obligatory train comment? Moving hundreds of people 500 miles in comfort, using only electricity, is also a VERY solved problem.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#16

Interesting decision to build the whole aircraft instead of the propulsion system only. I wonder what the decision process was between retrofit of existing turboprop frame vs. build from the ground up? I would expect the level of effort and certification to be much higher building from scratch even though you get complete control.

Judging by the seats, perhaps making it as light as possible. Existing airframes are relatively light but let's be honest, they aren't trying to save 500g here and there when they have massive jet engines to get everything airborne.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#17
post #14
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 500 miles with hybrid system > the grueling two hour drives What country are you in, and perhaps more importantly, what roads are you driving on?

Gotta be Germany and the Autobahn. The questions really are: What car are you driving? How are you not dead?

Both of you are misunderstanding the point: I was responding (pretty clearly I thought!) to the ridiculous "all electric" range.

Yes, it can go farther if you burn fuel. But so can a Dash-8, very effectively. No one is interested in hybrid range per se, only if the hybrid mode is more efficient.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#18
post #6
post #4

From the video: Range: 125 miles all electric 500 miles with hybrid system (electric + conventional turbo prop)

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The video cites the large number of existing flights that are short enough for the electric. I am not sure they should be judged based on whether they make air travel more appealing overall - making it cheaper and lower emission is plenty.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#19
post #6
post #4

From the video: Range: 125 miles all electric 500 miles with hybrid system (electric + conventional turbo prop)

[flagged]

Can you please not be snarky in HN comments and not post shallow dismissals of other people's work? Both of these are in the site guidelines, as you must know: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.

There's room for thoughtful skepticism and critique, but not dismissive sarcasm, nor supercilious putdowns like "Yeah...", "just a joke", "yet another high wing puddle jumper". All that is exactly what we ask commenters to avoid on this site. As the guidelines say, "A good critical comment teaches us something."

Your account unfortunately has a long history of breaking the site guidelines—enough, I'm afraid to say, that I instinctively brace myself when I see your username. We've asked you about this multiple times over the years:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29222114 (Nov 2021)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25697507 (Jan 2021)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21094881 (Sept 2019)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20314315 (June 2019)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19469358 (March 2019)

If you wouldn't mind taking the intended spirit of this site more to heart and really correcting this pattern, we'd appreciate it. You're obviously knowledgeable and a good commenter apart from this, but it's a problem.

Re: The largest electric aircraft just flew [video]

#20
the concept of electric motors with ultimate "any" fuel flexibility for generators is definitely the future

then we are not tied to global fuel politics

and maybe airports will become far less toxic with leaded fuel finally being completely eliminated

(and there is a Ycombinator video channel? never knew)

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