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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.
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Trains are great, but they can only go where tracks go. Planes are faster, too, noting that boarding times can dilute that. Trains are perfect for freight and super frequent routes, though.
Commercial passenger planes can generally only lift off and on at dedicated facilities, though.
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.
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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.
I discussed with people working on aircraft components, and my understanding is that weight is a constant obsession for them. Propose a new system to Airbus/Boeing, and the first question they'll ask is "how much does it weight?" Every kg saved is a kg more of freight that can be transported (or a little less fuel used to keep the plane in the air); save 500g for each seat of a 200-seat plane, and you can put one mor…
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.
Really, a prototype airplane, the first of this size ever built with this novel propulsion system, had engineers involved in the design?
Uh, what about the Bombardier C-series (A220)?
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.
But maybe they’re aiming at short haul cargo. And either way, wouldn’t that really be one of the last things to do? Just proving the plane can even get in the air and stay there for a useful distance on electricity is more important than how comfortable it is.
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There are maybe some advantages to a hybrid system. The higher reliability of electric. Losing an turbine engine doesn't mean asymmetrical thrust. Plane still flies normally. Losing an engine on takeoff you still have full power. Electric motors spin up faster than turbines. Which means faster throttle response. Which you need when hit with a wind shear on landing. Take off and landing under electric power means much…
I’ve been tinkering with the idea of a hybrid system where the ICE system is its own bolt on component to an electric aircraft that is used for takeoff and altitude before it detaches and returns to the airfield before the aircraft cruiser on electric power. Could even have a rocket launch version for cargo
> It's the first clean sheet airliner to be flown in any category, electric or not, uh, in the US in in the last 18 years. Uh, what about the Bombardier C-series (A220)?
Hence 18 years.