• Re: eVTOL's having trouble taking off

    From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Wed Dec 21 17:10:06 2022
    "Aura Aerospace is setting their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world."

    Jeez! The crap some people dream up. Just where are they going to hold all that "sustainable jet fuel" that allows for 22 hours of flight time? But don't worry, they say that if it runs out of fuel between their "New York to Adelaide Australia" flight,
    it "will glide." I'd be more concerned about how well it will float.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to All on Wed Dec 21 17:29:47 2022
    https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/

    Having a little trouble with the Guardian, Aura Aerospace is setting
    their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way
    around the world:

    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aura-ranger-long-range-evtol/

    Hope it works better than the first one.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Charles Longley on Wed Dec 21 18:48:30 2022
    On 12/21/22 6:37 PM, Charles Longley wrote:
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 7:10:08 PM UTC-6, Mark Mocho wrote:
    "Aura Aerospace is setting their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world."

    Jeez! The crap some people dream up. Just where are they going to hold all that "sustainable jet fuel" that allows for 22 hours of flight time? But don't worry, they say that if it runs out of fuel between their "New York to Adelaide Australia" flight,
    it "will glide." I'd be more concerned about how well it will float.
    Well you know if you ignore basic physics and pass the crack pipe around it just might work…

    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight. He
    went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Charles Longley@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Wed Dec 21 17:37:56 2022
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 7:10:08 PM UTC-6, Mark Mocho wrote:
    "Aura Aerospace is setting their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world."

    Jeez! The crap some people dream up. Just where are they going to hold all that "sustainable jet fuel" that allows for 22 hours of flight time? But don't worry, they say that if it runs out of fuel between their "New York to Adelaide Australia" flight,
    it "will glide." I'd be more concerned about how well it will float.
    Well you know if you ignore basic physics and pass the crack pipe around it just might work…

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to kinsell on Thu Dec 22 09:28:17 2022
    Nah...

    They should put the promoters and designers on board for the first
    flights. If they won't climb aboard, cut the funding.

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/21/22 18:48, kinsell wrote:
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight.  He went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Hank Nixon@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Thu Dec 22 08:58:28 2022
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 11:28:21 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Nah...

    They should put the promoters and designers on board for the first
    flights. If they won't climb aboard, cut the funding.

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/21/22 18:48, kinsell wrote:
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight. He went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.

    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From [email protected]@21:1/5 to kinsell on Thu Dec 22 12:51:52 2022
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 8:48:33 PM UTC-5, kinsell wrote:
    On 12/21/22 6:37 PM, Charles Longley wrote:
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 7:10:08 PM UTC-6, Mark Mocho wrote:
    "Aura Aerospace is setting their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world."

    Jeez! The crap some people dream up. Just where are they going to hold all that "sustainable jet fuel" that allows for 22 hours of flight time? But don't worry, they say that if it runs out of fuel between their "New York to Adelaide Australia"
    flight, it "will glide." I'd be more concerned about how well it will float.
    Well you know if you ignore basic physics and pass the crack pipe around it just might work…
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight. He
    went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.
    Could be the same technology used in motorgliders. OBTP

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Eric Greenwell@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Thu Dec 22 13:17:26 2022
    On 12/22/2022 12:51 PM, [email protected] wrote:
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 8:48:33 PM UTC-5, kinsell wrote:
    On 12/21/22 6:37 PM, Charles Longley wrote:
    On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 7:10:08 PM UTC-6, Mark Mocho wrote:
    "Aura Aerospace is setting their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world."

    Jeez! The crap some people dream up. Just where are they going to hold all that "sustainable jet fuel" that allows for 22 hours of flight time? But don't worry, they say that if it runs out of fuel between their "New York to Adelaide Australia"
    flight, it "will glide." I'd be more concerned about how well it will float. >>> Well you know if you ignore basic physics and pass the crack pipe around it just might work…
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight. He
    went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.
    Could be the same technology used in motorgliders. OBTP

    They use batteries, electronic controllers, and electric motors; so, yes, it is "the same
    technology used in motorgliders". There are huge differences in the battery size, the
    complexity of the controller to operate 10+ motors, and the reliability needed for a
    primary lift and attitude control system, instead the relatively simple auxiliary
    propulsion system needed for a motorglider. It's a lot harder to build a safe helicopter
    than a safe self-launcher, regardless of the power choice.
    --
    Eric Greenwell - USA
    - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation"
    https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From AS@21:1/5 to Hank Nixon on Thu Dec 22 16:27:52 2022
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 11:58:30 AM UTC-5, Hank Nixon wrote:
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 11:28:21 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Nah...

    They should put the promoters and designers on board for the first
    flights. If they won't climb aboard, cut the funding.

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/21/22 18:48, kinsell wrote:
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight. He went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{

    Uli
    'AS'

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Dave Nadler@21:1/5 to kinsell on Thu Dec 22 21:46:52 2022
    On 12/21/2022 7:29 PM, kinsell wrote:
    https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/

    Having a little trouble with the Guardian, Aura Aerospace is setting
    their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way
    around the world:

    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aura-ranger-long-range-evtol/

    Hope it works better than the first one.

    How bout this one: https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-01/beta-evtol-aircraft-battery-catches-fire-while-awaiting-ground-testing?utm_source=Electric+VTOL+News&utm_campaign=dafe86c45f-eVTOL+eNews%2C+Sept+29%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_
    5d82db6e49-dafe86c45f-50854323

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Thu Dec 22 18:26:16 2022
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{

    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dave Nadler@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Thu Dec 22 21:48:14 2022
    On 12/22/2022 9:26 PM, Mark Mocho wrote:
    "Hope is not a strategy."

    That's a small label on DB's panel ;-)

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Dave Nadler on Thu Dec 22 20:59:17 2022
    On 12/22/22 7:46 PM, Dave Nadler wrote:
    On 12/21/2022 7:29 PM, kinsell wrote:
    https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/

    Having a little trouble with the Guardian, Aura Aerospace is setting
    their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way
    around the world:

    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aura-ranger-long-range-evtol/

    Hope it works better than the first one.

    How bout this one: https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-01/beta-evtol-aircraft-battery-catches-fire-while-awaiting-ground-testing?utm_source=Electric+VTOL+News&utm_campaign=dafe86c45f-eVTOL+eNews%2C+Sept+29%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_
    5d82db6e49-dafe86c45f-50854323

    The Alice thingy mentioned in that article rose from the ashes like a
    modern day Phoenix, and recently had an eight minute test flight. Beat
    the pants off the three minute flight of the Electro-Beaver. Whatever
    happened to the Electro-Beaver, anyway?

    However, same day as the Alice test flight, they announced projected
    range is now about half of their earlier figures, and they slipped their schedule by three years. Turns out the miracle advancements in battery technology haven't been showing up on schedule. Used to be, battery
    miracles were always two years away, now it's slipped to three years.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Eric Greenwell@21:1/5 to kinsell on Thu Dec 22 21:01:16 2022
    On 12/22/2022 7:59 PM, kinsell wrote:
    On 12/22/22 7:46 PM, Dave Nadler wrote:
    On 12/21/2022 7:29 PM, kinsell wrote:
    https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/

    Having a little trouble with the Guardian, Aura Aerospace is setting their sights
    higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world: >>>
    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aura-ranger-long-range-evtol/

    Hope it works better than the first one.

    How bout this one:
    https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-01/beta-evtol-aircraft-battery-catches-fire-while-awaiting-ground-testing?utm_source=Electric+VTOL+News&utm_campaign=dafe86c45f-eVTOL+eNews%2C+Sept+29%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_
    5d82db6e49-dafe86c45f-50854323

    The Alice thingy mentioned in that article rose from the ashes like a modern day Phoenix,
    and recently had an eight minute test flight.  Beat the pants off the three minute flight
    of the Electro-Beaver.  Whatever happened to the Electro-Beaver, anyway?

    However, same day as the Alice test flight, they announced projected range is now about
    half of their earlier figures, and they slipped their schedule by three years.  Turns out
    the miracle advancements in battery technology haven't been showing up on schedule.  Used
    to be, battery miracles were always two years away, now it's slipped to three years.

    The battery fire doesn't seem like the big news for Beta Technologies: they have orders
    for several hundred of it's Alia 250 aircraft from UPS and other companies, and the Alia
    250 has made a number of cross-country trips, including one of 5 days and 876 mile.

    https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure
    --
    Eric Greenwell - USA
    - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation"
    https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dave Nadler@21:1/5 to Eric Greenwell on Fri Dec 23 09:11:20 2022
    On 12/23/2022 12:01 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    The battery fire doesn't seem like the big news for Beta Technologies:
    they have orders for several hundred of it's Alia 250 aircraft from UPS
    and other companies, and the Alia 250 has made a number of cross-country trips, including one of 5 days and 876 mile.

    https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure

    While the XC flight is impressive, ask a few questions:

    1) the pictures show lift props not installed and area faired;
    much less drag (and maybe weight) than expected configuration?

    2) What was the weight at which they flew, and payload?

    3) Has it done vertical take-offs through transitions? What is the
    expected range given high energy use during vertical flight?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Craig Reinholt@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Fri Dec 23 06:38:09 2022
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:26:18 PM UTC-8, Mark Mocho wrote:
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{
    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    Perhaps a bit of MBA and engineering working together is the way to go. I was there when HP's calculator division went belly up because it was run 100% by engineers and would NOT listen to their MBA's about what the market wanted. The engineers arrogance
    was palpable in the office. A few years later production was off shore and almost no new devices were developed. HP went on to other products.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Eric Greenwell@21:1/5 to Dave Nadler on Fri Dec 23 06:41:28 2022
    On 12/23/2022 6:11 AM, Dave Nadler wrote:
    On 12/23/2022 12:01 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    The battery fire doesn't seem like the big news for Beta Technologies: they have orders
    for several hundred of it's Alia 250 aircraft from UPS and other companies, and the Alia
    250 has made a number of cross-country trips, including one of 5 days and 876 mile.

    https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure

    While the XC flight is impressive, ask a few questions:

    1) the pictures show lift props not installed and area faired;
    much less drag (and maybe weight) than expected configuration?

    2) What was the weight at which they flew, and payload?

    3) Has it done vertical take-offs through transitions? What is the expected range given
    high energy use during vertical flight?

    The article says the current prototype is configured as CTOL - conventional takeoff and
    landing - and will be certified first. The second prototype is configured as a VTOL, and
    has made several test flights. It's certification will be about two years after the CTOL,
    as I recall.

    I didn't see (and didn't look for) any detailed performance numbers. My impression is the
    XC was important as a "meet and greet" trip to show people it could operate like a gas
    engine aircraft at multiple airports with traffic and ATC, and that there were chargers at
    the airports that could recharge it quickly.

    Check out their many flights using FlightAware and the tail number N250UT.

    --
    Eric Greenwell - USA
    - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation"
    https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to Eric Greenwell on Fri Dec 23 12:05:27 2022
    A B-52 can easily fly with a couple (or more!) engines out. And I know
    the stock answer that, should an electric motor fail, the software will
    add power to other motors to take up the slack. But more power means
    current and more heat, increasing the likelihood, no matter how small,
    that something else (another motor, perhaps) will fail.

    Can you say, "Cascade"?

    I cringe when I see 10 vertical lift propellers.

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/22/22 14:17, Eric Greenwell wrote:

    They use batteries, electronic controllers, and electric motors; so,
    yes, it is "the same technology used in motorgliders". There are huge differences in the battery size, the complexity of the controller to
    operate 10+ motors, and the reliability needed for a primary lift and attitude control system, instead the relatively simple auxiliary
    propulsion system needed for a motorglider. It's a lot harder to build a
    safe helicopter than a safe self-launcher, regardless of the power choice.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to Craig Reinholt on Fri Dec 23 12:15:30 2022
    Are we talking about RPN here? Most engineers of my vintage will know
    what I'm talking about but I don't want to spell it out for fear of
    being called "racist". Again... I never could get used to that. RPN...

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/23/22 07:38, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:26:18 PM UTC-8, Mark Mocho wrote:
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{
    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    Perhaps a bit of MBA and engineering working together is the way to go. I was there when HP's calculator division went belly up because it was run 100% by engineers and would NOT listen to their MBA's about what the market wanted. The engineers
    arrogance was palpable in the office. A few years later production was off shore and almost no new devices were developed. HP went on to other products.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Craig Reinholt@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Fri Dec 23 12:37:09 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:15:34 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Are we talking about RPN here? Most engineers of my vintage will know
    what I'm talking about but I don't want to spell it out for fear of
    being called "racist". Again... I never could get used to that. RPN...

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 07:38, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:26:18 PM UTC-8, Mark Mocho wrote:
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{
    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    Perhaps a bit of MBA and engineering working together is the way to go. I was there when HP's calculator division went belly up because it was run 100% by engineers and would NOT listen to their MBA's about what the market wanted. The engineers
    arrogance was palpable in the office. A few years later production was off shore and almost no new devices were developed. HP went on to other products.

    LOL. No. RPN had nothing to do with it. Product features, demographics of the target markets, and pricing to name just a few factors caused the demise of the calculator division. TI listened to the broad market and HP didn't.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Fri Dec 23 13:45:36 2022
    That was the head of Aura (and chief test pilot) on the hotseat in the
    video. Maybe the designer(s) got fired after that?

    -Dave "I love the smell of hydrogen fluoride in the morning" K


    On 12/22/22 9:28 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Nah...

    They should put the promoters and designers on board for the first
    flights.  If they won't climb aboard, cut the funding.

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/21/22 18:48, kinsell wrote:
    Maybe they should try a little testing before doing a manned flight.
    He went to full throttle and it instantly burst into flames.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Craig Reinholt@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Fri Dec 23 12:48:29 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:05:31 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    A B-52 can easily fly with a couple (or more!) engines out.

    Speaking about the B-52, HP created a plug-in module for their HP41C calculator to continue nav and "other" functions in case the onboard systems died for some reason.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Craig Reinholt on Fri Dec 23 13:50:10 2022
    On 12/23/22 1:37 PM, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:15:34 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Are we talking about RPN here? Most engineers of my vintage will know
    what I'm talking about but I don't want to spell it out for fear of
    being called "racist". Again... I never could get used to that. RPN...

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 07:38, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:26:18 PM UTC-8, Mark Mocho wrote: >>>>>> All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{
    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    Perhaps a bit of MBA and engineering working together is the way to go. I was there when HP's calculator division went belly up because it was run 100% by engineers and would NOT listen to their MBA's about what the market wanted. The engineers
    arrogance was palpable in the office. A few years later production was off shore and almost no new devices were developed. HP went on to other products.

    LOL. No. RPN had nothing to do with it. Product features, demographics of the target markets, and pricing to name just a few factors caused the demise of the calculator division. TI listened to the broad market and HP didn't.

    The HP35 came out at $400, and was revolutionary at the time. It sold
    well, even though the cost would be equivalent to over $2700 today.

    Calculators rapidly became a commodity consumer item, and HP never had
    the cost structure in place to compete effectively in that market.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Craig Reinholt@21:1/5 to Craig Reinholt on Fri Dec 23 12:55:58 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:48:31 PM UTC-8, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:05:31 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    A B-52 can easily fly with a couple (or more!) engines out.

    Speaking about the B-52, HP created a plug-in module for their HP41C calculator to continue nav and "other" functions in case the onboard systems died for some reason. <<<

    Now that I ponder that 40+ year old memory, I believe the entire 41C was reworked and it wasn't just a module.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Craig Reinholt on Fri Dec 23 14:33:06 2022
    On 12/23/22 1:55 PM, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:48:31 PM UTC-8, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:05:31 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    A B-52 can easily fly with a couple (or more!) engines out.

    Speaking about the B-52, HP created a plug-in module for their HP41C calculator to continue nav and "other" functions in case the onboard systems died for some reason. <<<

    Now that I ponder that 40+ year old memory, I believe the entire 41C was reworked and it wasn't just a module.

    https://blogs.brown.edu/ladd/2015/11/30/flight-critical-calculator/

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to Craig Reinholt on Fri Dec 23 16:50:30 2022
    I recall in EE school when one of the graduate assistants bought one of
    the first HP calculators. It cost around $600 which was for me a
    month's pay if not more.

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/23/22 13:48, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:05:31 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    A B-52 can easily fly with a couple (or more!) engines out.

    Speaking about the B-52, HP created a plug-in module for their HP41C calculator to continue nav and "other" functions in case the onboard systems died for some reason.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From jfitch@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Fri Dec 23 17:15:39 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:37:11 PM UTC-8, [email protected] wrote:
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:15:34 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Are we talking about RPN here? Most engineers of my vintage will know
    what I'm talking about but I don't want to spell it out for fear of
    being called "racist". Again... I never could get used to that. RPN...

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 07:38, Craig Reinholt wrote:
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:26:18 PM UTC-8, Mark Mocho wrote:
    All a manifestation of too few people taking science class. Too many marketing degrees and too few scientists.

    UH
    Well, Hank - that's where the money in US corporations is (unfortunately)! I am an engineer and have worked and still work for large companies - ask me how I know. :-{
    And if it isn't bad enough, with MBAs taking precedence over engineering, just watch what happens with politicians and unicorn herders thinking they can repeal the Laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.

    "Hope is not a strategy."

    Perhaps a bit of MBA and engineering working together is the way to go. I was there when HP's calculator division went belly up because it was run 100% by engineers and would NOT listen to their MBA's about what the market wanted. The engineers
    arrogance was palpable in the office. A few years later production was off shore and almost no new devices were developed. HP went on to other products.
    LOL. No. RPN had nothing to do with it. Product features, demographics of the target markets, and pricing to name just a few factors caused the demise of the calculator division. TI listened to the broad market and HP didn't.
    Ti did and still does make a crap calculator compared to anything HP put out. I guess there are some things you just can't make a self respecting engineer do :-). I still have a functioning HP 67 (complete with card reader) sitting here. Also an HP 100LX
    which ran DOS - speaking of things a self respecting engineer shouldn't do - on which I ran the very first sailplane moving map/tactical computer, written by Chip Garner I think. Now however, when I need a calculator I just use my iPhone which can be set
    up to look like an HP calculator. Using RPN, of course.

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  • From Frank Whiteley@21:1/5 to Eric Greenwell on Fri Dec 23 18:48:34 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 7:41:34 AM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    On 12/23/2022 6:11 AM, Dave Nadler wrote:
    On 12/23/2022 12:01 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    The battery fire doesn't seem like the big news for Beta Technologies: they have orders
    for several hundred of it's Alia 250 aircraft from UPS and other companies, and the Alia
    250 has made a number of cross-country trips, including one of 5 days and 876 mile.

    https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-19/beta-makes-second-cross-country-evtol-flight-charging-infrastructure

    While the XC flight is impressive, ask a few questions:

    1) the pictures show lift props not installed and area faired;
    much less drag (and maybe weight) than expected configuration?

    2) What was the weight at which they flew, and payload?

    3) Has it done vertical take-offs through transitions? What is the expected range given
    high energy use during vertical flight?

    The article says the current prototype is configured as CTOL - conventional takeoff and
    landing - and will be certified first. The second prototype is configured as a VTOL, and
    has made several test flights. It's certification will be about two years after the CTOL,
    as I recall.

    I didn't see (and didn't look for) any detailed performance numbers. My impression is the
    XC was important as a "meet and greet" trip to show people it could operate like a gas
    engine aircraft at multiple airports with traffic and ATC, and that there were chargers at
    the airports that could recharge it quickly.

    Check out their many flights using FlightAware and the tail number N250UT.
    --
    Eric Greenwell - USA
    - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications
    https://lilium.com/jet

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  • From Mark Mocho@21:1/5 to All on Fri Dec 23 19:25:33 2022
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

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  • From kinsell@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Fri Dec 23 20:40:39 2022
    On 12/23/22 8:25 PM, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    It will be a lot of batteries they're hauling. 36 small ducted fans are
    going to be sucking a bunch of power, and making quite a racket.

    Took forever for these guys to demonstrate a transition from vertical to horizontal flight, plus they burned up one of their prototypes a while
    back. The eVTOL market is way too crowded for these guys to survive.
    IMMHO.

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  • From 2G@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Fri Dec 23 19:48:08 2022
    On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 6:46:56 PM UTC-8, [email protected] wrote:
    On 12/21/2022 7:29 PM, kinsell wrote:
    https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/

    Having a little trouble with the Guardian, Aura Aerospace is setting
    their sights higher, announcing the Ranger with range to fly half way around the world:

    https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aura-ranger-long-range-evtol/

    Hope it works better than the first one.
    How bout this one: https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-01/beta-evtol-aircraft-battery-catches-fire-while-awaiting-ground-testing?utm_source=Electric+VTOL+News&utm_campaign=dafe86c45f-eVTOL+eNews%2C+Sept+29%2C+2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_
    5d82db6e49-dafe86c45f-50854323

    Here is an excerpt:

    "While lithium-ion battery fires are relatively rare, they do pose a risk that electric aircraft developers need to take seriously. According to Luminati Aerospace CEO Daniel Preston, just about every major eVTOL developer has experienced a fire caused
    by lithium-ion batteries, though these incidents are not always reported to the public.

    One recent high-profile fire took place in January 2020, when a battery fire severely damaged Eviation’s Alice all-electric commuter aircraft during ground testing at Prescott Regional Airport in Arizona. Just a few weeks later, Lilium Air Mobility’s
    first full-scale eVTOL technology demonstrator was destroyed when a battery fire broke out during ground maintenance activities at the company’s headquarters near Munich."
    =====================
    All electric aircraft developers should be required to publish the results of their investigation into these fires to help eliminate them. It just isn't good enough that an event that will result in the loss of the aircraft is "rare," whatever that means.

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  • From Frank Whiteley@21:1/5 to kinsell on Sat Dec 24 07:08:07 2022
    On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 8:40:43 PM UTC-7, kinsell wrote:
    On 12/23/22 8:25 PM, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.
    It will be a lot of batteries they're hauling. 36 small ducted fans are
    going to be sucking a bunch of power, and making quite a racket.

    Took forever for these guys to demonstrate a transition from vertical to horizontal flight, plus they burned up one of their prototypes a while
    back. The eVTOL market is way too crowded for these guys to survive.
    IMMHO.
    A paradigm shift might change the game, though AFAIK none have yet been constructed in sizes to power a vehicle.
    https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2022/february/lithium-sulfur-cathode-carbonate-electrolyte

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  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to Mark Mocho on Sat Dec 24 09:25:29 2022
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit.
    Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

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  • From 2G@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Sat Dec 24 09:28:13 2022
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit.
    Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to All on Sat Dec 24 12:18:13 2022
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit.
    Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From 2G@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Sat Dec 24 15:12:20 2022
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 11:18:17 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit. >> Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    Hello - they're doing it already!

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Eric Greenwell@21:1/5 to All on Sat Dec 24 15:20:30 2022
    On 12/24/2022 3:12 PM, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 11:18:17 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit. >>>> Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    Hello - they're doing it already!

    Yep, and not just the airliners. You can buy a Garmin "Save my ass" system that will
    detect you are incapacitated, then it'll find a landable airport it can get to, then go
    there, make radio calls, and land.
    --
    Eric Greenwell - USA
    - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation"
    https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications

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  • From Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)@21:1/5 to Dan Marotta on Sat Dec 24 17:49:01 2022
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 2:18:17 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit. >> Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    Hi, I'm HAL, how can I assist you? No, I won't open the outer door....l....

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  • From Moshe Braner@21:1/5 to All on Sat Dec 24 22:15:43 2022
    On 12/24/2022 8:49 PM, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 2:18:17 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a cockpit. >>>> Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    Hi, I'm HAL, how can I assist you? No, I won't open the outer door....l....


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31j_A2BC8kA

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  • From Dan Marotta@21:1/5 to Eric Greenwell on Sun Dec 25 11:01:24 2022
    Not in any aircraft that I can afford.

    Dan
    5J

    On 12/24/22 16:20, Eric Greenwell wrote:
    On 12/24/2022 3:12 PM, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 11:18:17 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
    Oh, yeah... I'll let a computer fly me around. What could go wrong?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/24/22 10:28, 2G wrote:
    On Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 8:25:33 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote: >>>>> I was looking at their interior configurations and didn't see a
    cockpit.
    Did I miss something?

    Dan
    5J
    On 12/23/22 20:25, Mark Mocho wrote:
    https://lilium.com/jet

    Looks like a great way to haul batteries around.

    They will be pilotless. A pilot is a lot of dead weight.

    Hello - they're doing it already!

    Yep, and not just the airliners. You can buy a Garmin "Save my ass"
    system that will detect you are incapacitated, then it'll find a
    landable airport it can get to, then go there, make radio calls, and land.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)