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the logistics of this seem hilarious and ridiculous, but i guess we're still in that stage with electric aircraft where nothing is too outlandish to be off the table:

Magpie Aviation’s concept uses one or more electric aircraft to act as a tractor plane towing a passenger (or cargo) aircraft using a long cable. The towed plane would have enough battery power for takeoff, landing and flying to alternate airports but not enough to fly the full distance on its own, as reported by AeroTime.

The lead plane would take on the bulk of the traction, and when its battery is depleted, it could hand off towing duties to another electric towing aircraft to extend the rear plane’s range. Magpie CEO Damon Vander Lind summarized to Aviation Week, “You get towed until you’ve depleted down to your reserve in the lead aircraft, and then you swap in another tow aircraft.”

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[-] ppptan@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This one seems a bit less silly of an electric plane idea: https://www.vox.com/recode/2023/2/2/23582152/nasa-x-plane-boeing-air-force-sustainable-aircraft

Apparently the engines use regular fuel for takeoff but use battery for the rest of the flight.

[-] Hirom@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

I wonder if someone is working on a gound-based launch system like the catapult used on aircraft carrier.

The energy for takeoff wouldn't have to come from battery, but passengers would take more acceleration. Hopefully it'd be more tolerable than on aircraft carrier, if the runway is longer the acceleration may be lower.

[-] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 year ago

I’m not sure how much this would help. I believe the plane is using almost as much fuel during the ascent to cruising altitude as during the actual takeoff from the ground. And of course the physics of launching a heavy passenger plane this way might be more challenging than a smaller military aircraft.

[-] Rentlar@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

This is definitely intriguing technology, we may see yet if it's viable. I can hardly wait for flying trains!

🚃🚃🚃🚃🛫

[-] Laconic@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

I think synthetic fuels made from renewables running in conventional jet engines is the most sensible answer to aviation emissions right now.

[-] faustianflakes@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

Yeah energy density in hydrocarbons is hard to beat. Though honestly trains are probably the most sensible answer to aviation emissions right now.

[-] Laconic@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

Absolutely for overland travel we should be building out more trains.

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this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Environment

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