Are we going to link this article another 30 times?
How much fuel $ does it cost to fly a comparable gas plane for the same time?
Some rough math based on https://www.aircraft-commerce.com/wp-content/uploads/aircraft-commerce-docs/Aircraft guides/DASH 8 & Q SERIES/ISSUE63_DASH8FUEL.pdf suggests a Dash-8 100 series aircraft (similar passenger capacity turboprop plane) would burn something like 57 gallons on a 27 minute flight, assuming $4/gal results in $228 fuel cost
If we can have electric planes, what about electric hovercraft to replace some ferry routes?
Shut up about electric ferries. I want more hovercraft.
I’m so sorry. They’re very cool but incredibly impractical. There’s no way an insurer is going to cover a boat that basically is guaranteed to sink if it loses power.
all commercial hovercraft are watertight and buoyant even when the engines are off.
Ah! Good to know!
There are still a handful of commercial hovercraft routes.
I heard a hovercraft this morning, pretty sure they insure it, certainly has passengers.
Have heard rumours that they are looking to open up another route but I think its only seasonal and very infrequent. Hope it takes off though - pun not intended, but appreciated.
Never heard of a plane that managed to keep going without power and yet those can be insured. Also you can (apparently most do) make hovercraft with a buoyant hull.
Yes, floating is good. Planes have lifting bodies, so they can glide for quite a while without power.
Would love my own hovercraft, but they are pretty expensive. Not sure how I would legally transport it either.
But it’s the only British tech innovation of the last 100 years.