NASA Unveils Plans For Electric-Powered Plane

[Megalith]

NASA is dabbling with the idea of electric-powered aviation and believes this may be the starting point for something commercially viable, although the target will be smaller craft.

“The X-57 will take the first giant step in opening a new era of aviation,” Mr. Bolden declared. The steps taken by NASA will not translate into all-electric cross-country jetliners. But the agency hopes the technology can be incorporated into smaller, general aviation and commuter aircraft some years from now. The X-57 will look more like a Cessna, unlike some of NASA’s earlier sleek, futuristic X-planes. Its cruising speed might hit 175 miles per hour. Its wings, however, will be unique — far skinnier than usual and embedded with 14 motors.

 

[EODetroit]

Going back to the Spruce Goose style of powering aircraft. Not sure how great of an idea that is, but that's why they make X-Planes... to quantify that which is currently unknown or speculated over.

 

[Krenum]

Going back to the Spruce Goose style of powering aircraft.

 

[xX_Jack_Carver_Xx]

Pretty solid lack of imagination, nice budget cuts there Congress.

 

[nutzo]

So, can it be charged in flight, or do you have to land every 300 miles and plug it in?

 

[Methadras]

So, can it be charged in flight, or do you have to land every 300 miles and plug it in?

It will need a battery swap per landing most likely, so that means any carrier (if they go this route, which will be highly doubtful) will need to have a bank of fully charged batteries that will have to be swapped every flight for every plane that comes in. I suspect this won't be a cheap venture compared to the price of jet fuel.