NASA's testing its far-out electric plane concept

Ron Czapala

This sounds nuts to me -
Think there's a better way to spend their limited funds!


http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/17/nasa-testing-leaptech-wing/

NASA's set to test a wing concept it says "may herald (the) future" of electric planes, but it almost looks like a joke -- it has one-third the wing area of a normal aircraft and 18 electric motors. However, the space agency is dead serious about the LEAPTech wing, a joint partnership with two private aerospace companies. It consists of a 31-foot, carbon composite span with tiny motors powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries. After successful testing at slower speeds, NASA will "fly" a wing section aboard a specially-equipped truck at speeds up to 70mph. Eventually, the wing will be mounted to a commercial Tecnam P2006T aircraft and flown by test pilots

prof_braino

Ron Czapala wrote: »

This sounds nuts to me - Think there's a better way to spend their limited funds!

Better than basic research? Example, please. I'm all ears!

mindrobots

The concept is part of NASA's plan to transition aircraft to electric propulsion within the next ten years. NASA said the technology "has the potential to achieve transformational capabilities in the near-term for (private) aircraft, as well as for transport aircraft in the longer-term."

Not to take away from NASA, but they do realizes there are still DC3's and Piper Cubs flying that are 70 years old? People that have actually bought airframes with THEIR OWN MONEY try to make them last and may not be able to exercise their "transformational capabilities in the near term"

That's a skinny little wing! I wonder what kind of brick it glides like when you have no power to pull you forward and no little fans spinning to blow a breeze across your wing?

At the same time, a LEAPTech aircraft takes off and lands at the same speeds and distances as a normal plane.

Betcha it lands faster if it loses power on final!

P.S. I'm going out to the rocker...... Dang kids! Get off my grass!!!

Ron Czapala

prof_braino wrote: »

Better than basic research? Example, please. I'm all ears!

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
How does electric prop planes figure into Aeronautics and Space? Use it on the moon or mars? Maybe the next earth like planet we explore...

mindrobots

This is well within their roles and responsibilities. They're good to go with anything from in air or space. Cool!

Aeronautics (from the ancient Greek words ὰήρ āēr, which means "air", and ναυτική nautikē which means "navigation", i.e. "navigation of the air") is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere.

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Unamended)

(c) The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives:

(1) The expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the [highlight]atmosphere[/highlight] and space;

(2) The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of [highlight]aeronautical[/highlight] and space

vehicles;

(3) The development and operation of vehicles capable of carrying instruments, equipment, supplies and living organisms through space;

(4) The establishment of long-range studies of the potential benefits to be gained from, the opportunities for, and the problems involved in the utilization of [highlight]aeronautical[/highlight] and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes.

(5) The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in [highlight]aeronautical[/highlight] and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities [highlight]within and outside the atmosphere.[/highlight]

(6) The making available to agencies directly concerned with national defenses of discoveries that have military value or significance, and the furnishing by such agencies, to the civilian agency established to direct and control nonmilitary [highlight]aeronautical[highlight] and space activities, of information as to discoveries which have value or significance to that agency;

(7) Cooperation by the United States with other nations and groups of nations in work done pursuant to this Act and in the peaceful application of the results, thereof; and

(8) The most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States, with close cooperation among all interested agencies of the United States in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, facilities, and equipment.