The New Air Force One Hybrid, 15-20% More Efficient
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 04. 1.08
Our friends at HowStuffWorks had a look at the new presidential plane, Air Force One Hybrid. They break it down for you, from construction to operation.
It's particularly interesting to learn how the hybrid system works. "Air Force One Hybrid uses more than 2,000 lead-acid batteries in a parallel hybrid team with its four regular jet engines. That means that the plane's engines rely on a combination of fuel and battery power to turn, making them work more efficiently."
More details on fuel production after the jump.
"To keep the plane from relying on fossil fuels, Air Force One Hybrid's engines use a flexible fuel system. Every day, a special team collects used cooking oil from the White House, the Capitol building and other government-owned commissaries to be cleaned and reused as biofuel. In a pinch, and for areas where biofuels aren't readily available, jet fuel can still be used."
The new Air Force One should be 15-20% more efficient than its predecessor. Not quite there yet, but a step in the right direction.
Ha! Good one.
Happy April Fools Day...... meh
What, no mention of the on board biogas processor?
All of the toilets lead to a biogass processor which is heated by the hot air coming from the press cabin. The methane produced is then fed into the turbines, further reducing fuel use. On long flights, the on board menu consists only of several bean entrees to increase range.
hehehe
Nice fools day gag...I hope but our govt is so stupid, maybe they are thinking of putting 2000 heavy batteries in a plane. Here's an good idea, which government seems to be lacking these days...how about using air force one...less????. In today's computer age of video conferencing, etc, there should be less, not more air force one travel. Also, why the heck does approx 20 people need such a large airplane for anyway. The US government is a drain on society...in today's age, US citizens would be better off getting rid of senators, reps, etc. Govt would operate much better if it was only 10% of what it is now.
I like in the quote from howstuffworks.com's article "Unfortunately we had to get rid of the bowling alley."
haha
With all the hot air coming from the President, wouldn't a blimp be more efficient?
Now if you'd said it got some of its additional power from all the hot air in DC, I might have believed it...
I almost thought this was real, untill i saw that the flag image on the side of the planes tail, was backwrds.
more co2 with hybrids
why couldn't we just toss the number one passenger in the mainburner. That shouldn't raise the temp of the earth's atmosphere too much.
You'd think they'd put some "April Fool's" discloser at the end of the artcile. I believed this for about 10 seconds.
Ha, ha.
I thought a good AF joke would be Al Gore going off the grid.
WIth his own personal 2 GW nuke plant.
Now that, that would be funny.
Maybe something like this hybrid Air Force One will become reality with the next president.
OMG I am so glad that President Bush is actually doing something that the American public will agree with for once.
Great laugh! This got me to thinking...which is always cause for concern...just how such a system might be designed developed? Apparently, present technology can be used to develop the next generation of commercial airliner today--here's how it might be accomplished:
Using SIMF Technology (Super Intense Magnetic Field technology is the result of a joint effort between General Electric and American Superconductor during the 1990's) in combination with the new ultra-thin and lightweight, low rotational mass radial electric motors, four nacelles could be reduced to two on future aircraft--thus, greatly improve ground maneuverability, substantially shorten take-off and landing distances and decrease noise--all welcome improvements.
Still doubtful? Although SIMF's are crude at present, scientists estimate one with modestly mature technology could offer energy storage densities in the range of 180 to 230 Mega-Joules per cubic centimeter.
A single SIMF unit the size of an large SUV (approximately 20 Million cubic centimeters) could theoretically store 4,600 TRILLION JOULES ( 4.6 x 10 to the 15th power) or 12 BILLION kW/Hours ( 1.278 x 10 to the 9th power).
If two SIMF units were installed on a plane (one per nacelle), total theoretically thrust could reach 6.8 TRILLION FOOT POUNDS ( 3.413 x 10 to the 15th x 2 ) if all that energy could be converted into instantaneous to forward momentum. Moon shot anyone?
In actuality, a sustained 300,000 lbs of thrust for takeoff and less than half that amount for high speed cruising should be sufficient for future aircraft structures. Thus, if 300,000 lbs. of thrust were needed for 2% of flight time and 130,000 lbs for the remaining 98%, the SIMF storage units could provide enough energy to fly continuously for approximately two weeks without having to use a drop of fuel. In fact, unless I am doing my math calculations wrong, future fleets of aircraft could be up to 40% lighter and be rechargeable.
Each SIMFC unit gives a several hundred to one weight savings and offers several orders of magnitude greater energy density vs. fuel.
Last but not least, external surfaces can be coated with micro RFID-like nano-tube based energy-absorbers tuned to a specific frequency (or multiple frequencies) to absorb ambient available energy (ie: sun, short wave infrared, etc.) continuously--whether the plane is flying or on the ground. This could provide up to 23% of the energy required for normal operations and would certainly power all internal instrumentation, lights and navigation equipment.
Current energy-absorbing technologies are already achieving 80% energy absorption efficiency--far beyond mere solar technology--and is ridiculously simple to manufacture as it can be printed on mile-long rolls. Estimated weight penalty: 800 lbs. or four passengers w/o luggage per large jet liner.
I guess the joke is those who think it cannot be done.
Joke as it may be, the comment that the flag was backwards is not true. First off, we are at war and all goverment weather soldiers or other personel, wear the flag that is pictured on the tail. Second, who ever said the flag has to be pictured in any position other that Star Field be up unless in distress, the flag can fly left or right.
Joke as it may be, the comment that the flag was backwards is not true. First off, we are at war and all goverment weather soldiers or other personel, wear the flag that is pictured on the tail. Second, who ever said the flag has to be pictured in any position other that Star Field be up unless in distress, the flag can fly left or right.
PLEEEEASEEE!!!!
STOP POSTING LIES!!!!
NOW HOW TO DIFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE REAL AND THE FALSE?
THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF!!!
--
ed: Notice that this was posted on April 1st.
Someday this will be true. These types of enviro-fiction stories get people thinking, and thinking in the right direction. I'd like to see more of them. Kind of like "the onion" but for Green news.
To Thinkaboutit
Is there any solid information about this SIMF technology available on the web? I was looking and can't find anything.
Wishful thinking perhaps?
Cheers