61–70 of 223 posts
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It also depends on train stations being accidentally close to where you depart/arrive. Most people don't live closer to a large train station then to an airport, I'd think.
Large train stations are far more common than large airports in Europe, so you got this the wrong way around.
I was professionally close with an engineer who used to work on a (rapidly dwindling headcount) team responsible for the programs and related QA for mission critical flight safety systems. Think one of the big manufacturers. The eng dealt with: The standard was scripts with mutable variables such as `G == , B == , C == , redefine G as something else later` responsible for the processes around pretty critical airplane…
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I suspect it was in jest, but the reason why is that he is obviously immensely passionated about aviation and logistics. He makes really, really good videos about both, I'd recommend his channel to anyone. PS, I had to vouch for your comment to reply, as it was dead. Had a look through your profile… I think there's often a lot of value in asking simple questions, but a lot of your comment history is just extremely lo…
It was indeed in jest! Wendover's videos have been consistently increasing in quality over the years. The amount of research that goes into each one is phenomenal. So much so that lately if I ever come across any aviation topic on the internet, there's already a Wendover video about it. :)
They talk about regional flight. Does anyone have any sign that battery-powered planes carrying a hundred people will cross the Atlantic, Pacific, or the U.S.? The physics in Tom Murphy's textbook https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2021/03/textbook-debut suggests it's impossible. I've talked to people at electric plane companies who have offered no hope. I originally thought since we engineered from the Wright brothers to 74…
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LNA, an aviation industry newsletter, recently came to a very different conclusion [1]. The biggest difference to Wendover Productions's numbers is a hugely higher estimate in the cost of replacing the battery every 5-10 years due to battery degradation. [1] https://leehamnews.com/2021/07/01/the-true-cost-of-electric-...
Thank you for bringing up this other conclusion. I still side with Wendover overall. Even if batteries have to be replaced that often now, the technology will continue to improve, becoming both cheaper and more reliable. Computers used to be the size of rooms and break due to literal insects in them.
Also battery prices continue to fall. Some industry analysts still use battery cost estimates from five or 10 years ago for something that will happen in 30 years (battery replacement).
Edit: looks like they’re using extremely high costs for battery replacement, comparable to costs about a decade ago and about 2-4 times current costs for mass produced batteries, let alone 5-20 years from now: “ The cost of replacing such a battery can be projected to reach around $400 to $500 per kWh mid-decade.”
Compare this to estimates/goals by the Department of Energy that say $60-80/kWh is feasible by 2030: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/12/22/doe-offers-an-energy-...
I was professionally close with an engineer who used to work on a (rapidly dwindling headcount) team responsible for the programs and related QA for mission critical flight safety systems. Think one of the big manufacturers. The eng dealt with: The standard was scripts with mutable variables such as `G == , B == , C == , redefine G as something else later` responsible for the processes around pretty critical airplane…
I was professionally close with an engineer who used to work on a (rapidly dwindling headcount) team responsible for the programs and related QA for mission critical flight safety systems. Think one of the big manufacturers. The eng dealt with: The standard was scripts with mutable variables such as `G == , B == , C == , redefine G as something else later` responsible for the processes around pretty critical airplane…
Most of your point is well made, but electric engines are just as tied to physics, unless I'm missing something? Doesn't mean quality of the control software is still not concerning.
However, I'm pretty sure any modern internal combustion engine will have a highly advanced ECU computer too, so this is sort of a non-issue (though I'll admit I don't know much about aircraft engines specifically).
[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched_reluctance_motor
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I mean in Europe all capitals are within 100s/1000s of km from each others... and inner country travel is definitely within the 100km range. This has a huge potential, but I don't know if it will improve overtime, since energy density of Li-ion is a hard limit.
For me only if we figure out how to shorten airport time. Otherwise train in europe is easier - and usually located directly downtown or close instead of an hour in a car with traffic.
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I mean in Europe all capitals are within 100s/1000s of km from each others... and inner country travel is definitely within the 100km range. This has a huge potential, but I don't know if it will improve overtime, since energy density of Li-ion is a hard limit.
For me only if we figure out how to shorten airport time. Otherwise train in europe is easier - and usually located directly downtown or close instead of an hour in a car with traffic.
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Won't batteries be a problem now?
Good point. The Dreamliner has such problems in its Li-ion batteries to the point that the weight savings due to composite construction was subsequently nullified by metal retrofits to contain battery fires ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_... ). Additionally, IATA has put strict limits on Li-ion cargo due to Lithium being too reactive, so any plane with Lithium batteries must consider th…