• First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of elec

    From Lawrence D?Oliveiro@3:633/10 to All on Sun Aug 16 07:46:56 2026
    Subject: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BobbieSellers@3:633/10 to All on Sun Aug 16 07:32:44 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 8/16/26 00:46, Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    Oh a cartoon joke! How *******...

    The very first paragraph reads:

    The first flight of the largest battery-electric aircraft to take to the
    skies lasted nearly half an hour while costing just $5 of
    electricity. That aviation feat comes at a time when jet fuel prices
    have skyrocketed because of the US war with Iran.
    It goes on to discuss a machine that will operate as a Hybrid aircraft.

    No extension cords involved at any price.

    Oh but thanks for the link.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Nuno Silva@3:633/10 to All on Sun Aug 16 16:06:50 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 2026-08-16, BobbieSellers wrote:

    On 8/16/26 00:46, Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    Oh a cartoon joke! How *******...

    The very first paragraph reads:

    The first flight of the largest battery-electric aircraft to take to
    the skies lasted nearly half an hour while costing just $5 of
    electricity. That aviation feat comes at a time when jet fuel
    prices have skyrocketed because of the US war with Iran.
    It goes on to discuss a machine that will operate as a Hybrid aircraft.

    No extension cords involved at any price.

    Oh but thanks for the link.

    There's always the extension cord approach to electric travel, but it is
    an exposed wire, carefully placed over vehicles and carrying 25 kV at
    50-60 Hz.

    --
    Nuno Silva

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 02:13:53 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 8/16/2026 2:46 AM, Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    Nah, it uses a secret form of Tesla's wireless electricity through the air.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardenclyffe_Tower

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Charles Packer@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 07:44:37 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh
    as average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt
    to fly that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for
    five dollars instead of the half an hour reported in the press
    release.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Cryptoengineer@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 09:32:56 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh
    as average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt
    to fly that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for
    five dollars instead of the half an hour reported in the press
    release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount
    of bad math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is
    mindblowing.

    Leads me to worry about reporting on areas where I don't have
    independent knowledge.

    pt

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 14:40:41 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh
    as average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt
    to fly that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for
    five dollars instead of the half an hour reported in the press
    release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount
    of bad math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is
    mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower
    motor will consume one megawatt of power when running at full
    speed under load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff
    and much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 09:20:49 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
    wrote:

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro
    wrote:


    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh
    as average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt
    to fly that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for
    five dollars instead of the half an hour reported in the press
    release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount
    of bad math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is >>mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower
    motor will consume one megawatt of power when running at full
    speed under load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    I'm quite certain /I/ don't understand.

    if it consumes 1 MW then it consumes 1000KW. If it does this for 60
    minutes it consumes 1000KWh. If it does it for 10 minutes, it consumes 1000KWh/6 = 167KWh, for a cost of $16.67 at the price above.

    But maybe I am misinterpreting the word "consume" here.

    Or something else.



    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff
    and much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lawrence D?Oliveiro@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 23:51:57 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:44:37 -0000 (UTC), Charles Packer wrote:

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as
    average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly
    that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars
    instead of the half an hour reported in the press release.

    Even assuming Google AI is correct, that doesn?t necessarily mean the
    engines were running at a megawatt throughout the flight. Maximum
    power would, as usual, be needed at takeoff, but after that you could
    do what the large seabirds do, and glide much of the way, using power
    mainly for steering. Maybe even augment things with solar power.

    There have been aircraft before, running entirely on solar power,
    right from (unassisted) takeoff right through to landing. I saw a clip
    of one from NASA, and it was a wonder to behold, as parts of it
    gracefully got airborne before other parts. I think its takeoff speed
    was not much more than that of a normal cyclist.

    Of course, such a craft would have been too light to carry (many)
    passengers.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Tue Aug 18 19:20:45 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 8/18/2026 6:51 PM, Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:
    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:44:37 -0000 (UTC), Charles Packer wrote:

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as
    average price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly
    that works out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars
    instead of the half an hour reported in the press release.

    Even assuming Google AI is correct, that doesn?t necessarily mean the
    engines were running at a megawatt throughout the flight. Maximum
    power would, as usual, be needed at takeoff, but after that you could
    do what the large seabirds do, and glide much of the way, using power
    mainly for steering. Maybe even augment things with solar power.

    There have been aircraft before, running entirely on solar power,
    right from (unassisted) takeoff right through to landing. I saw a clip
    of one from NASA, and it was a wonder to behold, as parts of it
    gracefully got airborne before other parts. I think its takeoff speed
    was not much more than that of a normal cyclist.

    Of course, such a craft would have been too light to carry (many)
    passengers.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar-powered_aircraft

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Charles Packer@3:633/10 to All on Wed Aug 19 08:00:55 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-
    largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as average
    price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly that works
    out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars instead of the
    half an hour reported in the press release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount of bad
    math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower motor
    will consume one megawatt of power when running at full speed under
    load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff and
    much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    Revisiting my math, I get $.18/kwh = $180/Mwh
    5/180 ~.03 hr or ~1.8 min of flight at full power.
    Still an order of magnitude discrepency with the
    press release unless the flight was mostly
    gliding. Have I missed somethiing?

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Torbjorn Lindgren@3:633/10 to All on Wed Aug 19 11:07:07 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:
    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-
    largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as average
    price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly that works
    out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars instead of the
    half an hour reported in the press release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount of bad >>>math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower motor
    will consume one megawatt of power when running at full speed under
    load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff and
    much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    Revisiting my math, I get $.18/kwh = $180/Mwh
    5/180 ~.03 hr or ~1.8 min of flight at full power.
    Still an order of magnitude discrepency with the
    press release unless the flight was mostly
    gliding. Have I missed somethiing?

    You're using the average residential cost for the US.

    The flight was from Plattsburgh International Airport, can't find
    electricity costs there but the nearby Plattsburgh city municipal rate
    is currently between 4.84c/kWh and 4.97c/kWh, and others mention
    summer rates of 4c/kWh.

    Now, some other Plattsburgh areas cost more like the national average
    (15c to 18c per kWh) but I also think it's unlikely the airport pays
    more than residential customers, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if
    they pay a lot less - the US industrial average electricity cost per
    kWh is a bit less than half of the residential average! and average
    commercial rates are 75% of the residental rate.

    When it comes to what it actually used the official PR is really
    confusing, Heart says "delivered more than one megawatt of power". So
    they're mixing power/megawatt (instantaneous) and "delivered" (total power/MWh).

    IF that's 1 MW of combined engine power the $5 cost seeks to check out
    - depending on assumptions on how much power it used during different
    flight regimes my guesstimate is that $5 implies a likely rate
    somewhere between 2c/kWh and 8c/kWh which seems very plausible given
    the nearby Plattsburg rate.

    If it means they used 1MWh during the flight OTOH it gets harder to
    make the math work out, the cost need to be 0.5c/kWh! I guess it's
    possible the airport really has that cheap (subsidised) electricity or
    it was charged at some kind ultra-low night rate.

    Many people have gone with the first option but it would make more
    sense to announce how much power was used especially since they then
    tell us the cost, IE option 2.

    So, I'm on "there's probably SOME way they can defend their numbers"
    side. It may not make complete sense but this a press release, logic
    is just a way to be wrong with confidence when it comes to PR :-)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Wed Aug 19 14:50:08 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> writes:
    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote:

    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-
    largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as average
    price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly that works
    out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars instead of the
    half an hour reported in the press release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount of bad >>>math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower motor
    will consume one megawatt of power when running at full speed under
    load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff and
    much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    Revisiting my math, I get $.18/kwh = $180/Mwh
    5/180 ~.03 hr or ~1.8 min of flight at full power.
    Still an order of magnitude discrepency with the
    press release unless the flight was mostly
    gliding. Have I missed somethiing?

    The power curve will be greatest at takeoff
    when full power is required and lowest at cruise
    when the power requirements are significantly less.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Wed Aug 19 14:45:15 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    On 8/19/2026 9:50 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> writes:
    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote: >>>>>
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-
    largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as average >>>>> price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly that works >>>>> out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars instead of the >>>>> half an hour reported in the press release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount of bad >>>> math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is mindblowing.

    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower motor >>> will consume one megawatt of power when running at full speed under
    load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh.

    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff and >>> much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    Revisiting my math, I get $.18/kwh = $180/Mwh
    5/180 ~.03 hr or ~1.8 min of flight at full power.
    Still an order of magnitude discrepency with the
    press release unless the flight was mostly
    gliding. Have I missed somethiing?

    The power curve will be greatest at takeoff
    when full power is required and lowest at cruise
    when the power requirements are significantly less.

    Until landing when the flaps are deployed in stages.

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Wed Aug 19 22:37:22 2026
    Subject: Re: First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/19/2026 9:50 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Charles Packer <mailbox@cpacker.org> writes:
    On Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:40:41 GMT, Scott Lurndal wrote:

    Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
    On 8/18/2026 3:44 AM, Charles Packer wrote:
    On Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:46:56 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D?Oliveiro wrote: >>>>>>
    <https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/first-test-flight-of-
    largest-
    all-electric-aircraft-used-just-5-of-electricity/>

    Of course, the extension cord cost $10,000 ...

    The numbers don't add up. Google AI gives 18 cents per kwh as average >>>>>> price of electricity. If the plane needs a megawatt to fly that works >>>>>> out to be about 20 seconds of flight for five dollars instead of the >>>>>> half an hour reported in the press release.

    I've been following press coverage of EVs for years. The amount of bad >>>>> math and ignorance (and deliberate misrepresentation) is mindblowing. >>>>
    I suspect that the reporter didn't understand. A 1333 horsepower motor >>>> will consume one megawatt of power when running at full speed under
    load. If the flight was 10 minutes at full load,
    that requires about 100Kwh of electricity, or about $10 at USD0.10/kwh. >>>>
    The power draw will be a curve, with the biggest draw during takeoff and >>>> much less in cruise and landing.

    So $5 doesn't seem out of line for this test flight.

    Revisiting my math, I get $.18/kwh = $180/Mwh
    5/180 ~.03 hr or ~1.8 min of flight at full power.
    Still an order of magnitude discrepency with the
    press release unless the flight was mostly
    gliding. Have I missed somethiing?

    The power curve will be greatest at takeoff
    when full power is required and lowest at cruise
    when the power requirements are significantly less.

    Until landing when the flaps are deployed in stages.


    The landing should not consume significant power, unless
    they leverage reverse thrust to slow down once the wheels are
    down. The linear actuators used for flight controls[*] do
    not require significant power for operation.

    [*] Flaps, Ailerons, Rudder.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)