Unfortunately, the entire aviation industry is taking this seriously. There are a profusion of companies in operation with the goal of producing passenger-carrying drones with automatic pilot and electrical propulsion, for intra-city transport, competing with taxicabs. Imagine an airborne Tesla...crossed with a 737 MAX MCAS brain.
There are also plans for large-size passenger aircraft to be propelled by mixed propulsion (gas turbine driving generator energizing electric motors). I don't pretend to understand the design rationale, but apparently there are some aerodynamic advantages to distributing the propulsive thrust along the entire leading edge of the wing. As an aerodynamicist, I am not sold on the idea. (I'm more partial to unducted fans.)
Unfortunately, the entire aviation industry is taking this seriously. There are a profusion of companies in operation with the goal of producing passenger-carrying drones with automatic pilot and electrical propulsion, for intra-city transport, competing with taxicabs. Imagine an airborne Tesla...crossed with a 737 MAX MCAS brain.
There are also plans for large-size passenger aircraft to be propelled by mixed propulsion (gas turbine driving generator energizing electric motors). I don't pretend to understand the design rationale, but apparently there are some aerodynamic advantages to distributing the propulsive thrust along the entire leading edge of the wing. As an aerodynamicist, I am not sold on the idea. (I'm more partial to unducted fans.)
My thought was, I need to shut my mouth. Also, thank you if you’re a Patriot. I won’t forget what you just typed.