Comments on: A fixed-wing airplane that delivers the access of a helicopter with 100 times less noise, 70% lower cost, improved safety, and dramatically reduced emissions https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/ From the ancient Greek for equality in freedom of speech; an eclectic mix of thoughts, large and small Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:43:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 By: Isegoria https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3752200 Isegoria Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:54:10 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3752200 Gaikokumaniakku, I had that piece open in another tab. Great minds…

]]> By: Gaikokumaniakku https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3752056 Gaikokumaniakku Thu, 03 Apr 2025 08:49:02 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3752056 https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-marines-seagliders-for-rescue-ops

Tangentially relevant

]]> By: Bruce https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751542 Bruce Tue, 01 Apr 2025 03:53:20 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751542 Thanks, Gaik. Cyclotech looks really cool.

]]> By: Gaikokumaniakku https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751455 Gaikokumaniakku Mon, 31 Mar 2025 21:48:18 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751455 I am still holding out hope — and perhaps it is foolish, uninformed hope — for cycloidal propellers in aircraft like this one:

https://www.cyclotech.at/cyclotech-presents-first-air-car-with-cyclorotors/

]]> By: Isegoria https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751422 Isegoria Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:10:25 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751422 This matter-of-fact video with the lead engineer is more reassuring.

]]> By: Jim https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751407 Jim Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:36:24 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751407 Hybrid-electric propulsion is destined to be a paradigmatic technological breakthrough for GA (General Aviation). The fundamental problem is that of making it work.

After watching a few minutes of the CEO, Marc Allen, speak, I’m deeply skeptical of the success of Electra because he isn’t nearly autistic enough to make something technical like this work. Furthermore, (1) the man is some sort of Middle Easterner or something, (2) he was formerly a senior executive at Boeing, and, most importantly, (3) he is a lawyer. Other problematic affiliations and blaring negative signals include membership of the Council on Foreign Relations and board chairmanship of a human-trafficking NGO.

Personally, if I wanted to launder money, I’d do something low-profile.

]]> By: Isegoria https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751369 Isegoria Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:21:18 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751369 Perhaps “hybrid-electric propulsion” needs spelling out:

Our hybrid-electric propulsion system uses a combination of a turbogenerator and battery packs to power the aircraft’s electric motors. The turbogenerator is sized for cruise, while the battery boosts power for takeoff and landing. This way, the turbogenerator can be small and always operates at its most efficient operating point.

This reduces fuel burn and lowers maintenance cost. Operators can choose to charge the battery in flight via the turbogenerator or re-charge on the ground where charging infrastructure is available. However, charging infrastructure is not required.

Using electricity means it can use many, small, responsive motors:

Our Ultra Short aircraft uses eight electric motors placed along the leading edge of the wing, resulting in a dramatic improvement in aerodynamic performance. This innovative design enables our aircraft to achieve ultra-short takeoff performance and maintain a low noise footprint. Coupled with our hybrid-electric propulsion system, the Ultra Short consumes significantly less fuel compared to conventional aircraft. Fly-by-wire flight controls ensure precise landings, even in tight spaces.

]]> By: McChuck https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751357 McChuck Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:43:39 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751357 The propellers drive wind over the wings, increasing lift. Just like they did for WWII bombers. The lift can even be increased by the use of flaps!

Wow, what a new innovation.

]]> By: Michael van der Riet https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751351 Michael van der Riet Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:19:27 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751351 The best batteries have about one tenth the energy density of avgas. Every ton of battery is nine hundred kilograms less payload. This disadvantage is artfully sidestepped by using a different energy storage measure. We can ignore the lessening mass of avgas over a flight, as it is the take-off weight that matters.

]]> By: Dinodoxy https://www.isegoria.net/2025/03/a-fixed-wing-airplane-that-delivers-the-access-of-a-helicopter-with-100-times-less-noise-70-lower-cost-improved-safety-and-dramatically-reduced-emissions/comment-page-1/#comment-3751346 Dinodoxy Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:06:29 +0000 https://www.isegoria.net/?p=52781#comment-3751346 It sounds like this is something like the diesel-electric drive train that has been used on trains for half a century .

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