Fuel efficient planes (30 MPG) on the horizon?

[wbarnhill]

http://gizmodo.com/5036281/greener-skies-quiet-fuel+efficient-airplanes-race-in-nasa-challenge

I'd be quite interested to see where this goes in the next few years... plus if the market is going to push for all electric for the noise reduction (though then the airlines wouldn't have anyone to blame...)

 

[Greebo]

So looks like they're shooting for about 5 GPH. Sweet!

 

[wbarnhill]

So looks like they're shooting for about 5 GPH. Sweet!

But would you give up 100LL for biodiesel?

 

[wsuffa]

But would you give up 100LL for biodiesel?

Is this what you mean by biodiesel? Probably safe for work, but still use caution....

 

[Ted]

30 mpg planes already exist. A Lancair 320 owner I've met demonstrated (with me in the plane) that at 140 kts, the plane will burn 4 gph. That's 35 mpg, using natuical miles, no less! What's the practicality on the plane? Egh, limited, and it's certainly not a plane I'd recommend to a primary student, but they're out there.

 

[dmccormack]

1947 Beech V tail Bonanza, Model 35, Continental E185-1 Engine with Electric, Variable pitch prop

135 Knots @ 6.5 GPH

Efficiency is nothing new.

 

[docmirror]

I read the comments. As I was reading the article, something came to mind. I had a Vari-EZ back in 1984. It got ~30MPG, went about 160MPH with one person, and was fun to fly. Not particularly quite, but I could have added the motorcycle muffler and not lost much power or speed.

We suuuuuuuuure have come a long way in the last 30 years.

 

[docmirror]

1947 Beech V tail Bonanza, Model 35, Continental E185-1 Engine with Electric, Variable pitch prop

135 Knots @ 6.5 GPH

Efficiency is nothing new.

Got one just like that now. I have a 225, so it's bit more thirsty, but still very fuel efficient. Keep it light, keep it clean, and pull on both the throttle and mixture till it hurts.