Article

2021-11-23 Science & Technology

Rolls-Royce unveils the world's FASTEST all-electric plane: 'Spirit of Innovation' aircraft reaches maximum speeds of 387.4mph during test flight - smashing the existing record by 132mph

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Posted by Skidmark 2021-11-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

Just keep enough rubber bands handy.

Posted by Vinegar Unimble6957 2021-11-23 00:16|| 2021-11-23 00:16|| Front Page Top

#2 You need a really long extension cord!

Posted by CrazyFool 2021-11-23 00:27|| 2021-11-23 00:27|| Front Page Top

#3 ^ Don't be silly. It runs on batteries... recharged by battery-powered generators.

Posted by Whoque Elmelet9465 2021-11-23 02:11|| 2021-11-23 02:11|| Front Page Top

#4 You need a really long extension cord!

Don't be silly. Put wind generators on the front.

Posted by swksvolFF 2021-11-23 10:45|| 2021-11-23 10:45|| Front Page Top

#5 The Wright brothers didn't fly very far at Kitty Hawk either but they knew they were onto something and they kept working on it. I believe that competition and demand will drive innovation and advances in this technology until it gets to the point where it is no longer the butt of your jokes.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2021-11-23 11:44|| 2021-11-23 11:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Agree with Abu. Innovation takes time. Batteries need to get significantly better and cheaper to make electric planes worthwhile. Good to see demonstrations of new tech.

Posted by Saltie Fork 2021-11-23 12:05|| 2021-11-23 12:05|| Front Page Top

#7 I'll say one thing, if it catches fire, it's toast. Fuel based planes are too, but they can at least be put out. If that crashes, it's going to burn out for a long time.

Posted by Silentbrick 2021-11-23 12:13|| 2021-11-23 12:13|| Front Page Top

#8 As Stephen den Beste put it: "Batteries need to be better than the energy density of a diesel engine and its fuel tank, also refuel up as fast" (or words to that effect). They have a long way to go to meet that goal.

Posted by magpie 2021-11-23 15:15|| 2021-11-23 15:15|| Front Page Top

#9 Couldn't you combine batteries with solar. Once you get high enough there are no cloud problems and your upper surfaces could potentially generate power to recharge, assuming they are light and sturdy enough of course.

Posted by ruprecht 2021-11-23 17:40|| 2021-11-23 17:40|| Front Page Top

#10 ^ Solar Impulse

No beef with competition and innovation. BIG beef with current mania for filling every urban parking area and suburban cul-de-sac with filthy, inefficient, expensive subsidized people-anchors.

Posted by Whoque Juan9465 2021-11-23 23:57|| 2021-11-23 23:57|| Front Page Top

23:57 Whoque Juan9465
22:55 Alpha2c
22:01 Merrick Ferret
19:43 swksvolFF
18:44 M. Murcek
18:34 Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843
18:32 Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843
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17:55 Whoque Juan9465
17:40 ruprecht
17:35 Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843
17:34 swksvolFF
17:33 M. Murcek
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