I'm waiting for one of them thair thermonuclear planes that can fly LAX-SIN in like 15 minutes:D.

Yeah, no kidding. I mean, I've already seen the made-for-TV disaster movie about this plane (it gets stuck in orbit)...they released that in the 1970's...so what's taking them so long to make the real thing?!? :mad:

Some science fiction predicts a future in which air travel is by dirigible, typically solar (but fuel cells would seem to be an option, too). Seems more plausible to me than electric airplanes.

dirigibility

I can't see airships being much good for anything in future but short haul freight in awkward terrain or built-up areas. Oh, and advertising and birds-eye camera views.

It's too early for aviation to consider alternatives. We still have plenty of oil, it's just outrageously expensive for political and financial reasons (ie speculators).

Oil is still way cheaper than any alternative, and most importantly for transport, extremely portable.

It's always good to see blue-sky thinking but the biggest changes in transport are more likely to result from developments like the Google car than new energy sources.

I suggest you return the book where you bough it from and ask for a refund.
Gilbert and Perl "reputable"?? :confused: :D

There is still plenty of oil to be discovered.

https://www.google.com/search?q=oil+...brazil&tbm=nws

Let's see what happens with the North Pole. I'm sure there is black juice under them icecap ;)

There will never be 'electric airplanes.' Long after I'm dead we'll probably see some kind of anti-gravity vehicle powered by Mr. Fusion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCjsUxbNmIs#t=1m10s

...but in the interim, rising fuel prices will eventually turn air travel back to the realm of the wealthy and high-speed electric train travel will fill the gap.

Problem is that requires foresight from today's politicians.

Electric planes in the bush on a milk run. Hmm, guess they'd be charged up by using a current bush:p:D

A company in Colorado will convert your AVGas powered Cessna 172 to electric, inspiring Cessna to develop a production model, still in the works.

Nah. Wing-in-ground aircraft. Nothing like doing 650km while you're 25 metres above the ocean. If someone wants to get fancy they can resurrect the coal dust powered jet engine to go with it.

I hope that was supposed to be "wing-in-ground-effect". The other one sounds like a fatal flaw or outcome. ;)

Preparing for the oil bust: electric planes?
 

The U.S government had a program during the cold war to design a plane powered by a nuclear reactor.

trains have the option to get their power from rails or overhead lines. Cars don't require nearly the thrust & power that planes do.

I think we're stuck with Jet A for a while.

I think you're being a bit optimistic there... It's not going to run out in our lifetimes - but it won't last a hell of a lot longer than that (in sufficient quantities to be affordable for consumption by most of the planet anyway). Particularly as it's use is still rising rapidly.

My theory is that ground based transport will slowly convert to be electric based (expect to see hybrid cars becoming far more mainstream in the next few decades) leaving plenty of oil left for aviation. Bio-fuels will presumably be far more advanced and commercially viable by then as well.