In article ,
george152 wrote:

On 13/12/12 06:36, Orval Fairbairn wrote:

"Everything will eventually be electric?" I don't think so! Unless
someone can come up with something like the sci-fi "zero point module,"
"dilithium crystals" or some other means of storing large amounts of
energy in small, lightweight packages, it won't.

Batteries, which must store the equivalent of fuel *and oxidizer* will
always be deficient here. For gasoline engines, the ratio is 15:1 by
weight of oxidizer/fuel.

It isn't the motors, but the energy source which fails.

And how would such a machine fit into an average fleet of training
aircraft ?
Most of the day it would be out either being recharged or having the
battery pack replaced.
And range.
Any landings and refuelling away from base would have to take account of
facilities at the destination..
At the moment it sounds far to complex to return revenue
There was one electric powered aircraft in the 30s that looked great but
could only fly circuits..

Did it have a very LONG extension cord?