Username Protected wrote:
This is definitely going to be great for aviation if it can lower the hourly cost of training.
A friend with a great job and a supportive doctor for a wife and almost no debt, just quit his flying lessons yesterday after three hours because he just couldn’t justify the $10k plus he estimated it was going to cost to get his private pilot license.
Flying some ratted out, smelly Piper for $213/hr with instructor is rediculous. A big part of that cost is that maintenance hog POS power plant hanging out front.
If they are even close to the estimated $20/hr operating cost for the eflyer2, that’s effing huge.
I write this as I’m excitedly looking forward to going to the hangar to change and find a place to dispose of 5 gallons of toxic waste oil from the 120 and Bonanza, and remove clean and replace 20 @$#&##$ spark plugs to prep for a annual inspection which mostly revolves around that 1920s technology power plant.
Greg
Just like electric cars, they’ll be sold by capitalists who will make up the financial difference of OpX with the sales price. Regarding toxic waste, what type of power plant supplies your airport with energy? Have you looked into battery manufacturing?
I’m a supporter of electric transportation, but I think we need to consider the realities. Hopefully the tech will eventually increase performance. Then we’ll have something that sells vs a limited airframe that creates fodder for eliminating certain fuels.
