The idea that you only need the full power for takeoff is nonsense. You also need it for go-arounds, or fighting strong downdrafts, or if you get seriously and quickly iced up and need full power to simply stay aloft, or if your engine #1 goes out and you need to add power on #2....
Check how MANY checklists for how many situations require full power.
Maybe this has applications for unmanned stuff where it is ok to lose the craft sometimes (which explains Raytheon's interest) but for human carrying, this is idiocy, i say again.
I think you misunderstand. The largest use-case for full-power is takeoff, and that is where the most energy savings comes from having an electric motor assist during the full-power need.
That does not mean that full-power would be unavailable for those other uses you mention.
The batteries are recharged during descent, if I understand correctly. Since "full power" in this craft requires the lithium batteries to be charged, I wonder how much reserve energy will be left in those during cruise for contingency reasons. Perhaps there is plenty left for fighting downdrafts, etc. Unsure.
One nice thing about electric motors is that they can be "throttled up" almost instantaneously, unlike some (not all) turbines. For example, that ultra fast response may be useful in a wind shear situation.
But if the battery is not in ideal state like just after climb up, would that be a problem as the real full power is not really available all the time it seemed.
Comments
The idea that you only need the full power for takeoff is nonsense. You also need it for go-arounds, or fighting strong downdrafts, or if you get seriously and quickly iced up and need full power to simply stay aloft, or if your engine #1 goes out and you need to add power on #2....
Check how MANY checklists for how many situations require full power.
Maybe this has applications for unmanned stuff where it is ok to lose the craft sometimes (which explains Raytheon's interest) but for human carrying, this is idiocy, i say again.
I think you misunderstand. The largest use-case for full-power is takeoff, and that is where the most energy savings comes from having an electric motor assist during the full-power need.
That does not mean that full-power would be unavailable for those other uses you mention.
The batteries are recharged during descent, if I understand correctly. Since "full power" in this craft requires the lithium batteries to be charged, I wonder how much reserve energy will be left in those during cruise for contingency reasons. Perhaps there is plenty left for fighting downdrafts, etc. Unsure.
One nice thing about electric motors is that they can be "throttled up" almost instantaneously, unlike some (not all) turbines. For example, that ultra fast response may be useful in a wind shear situation.
But if the battery is not in ideal state like just after climb up, would that be a problem as the real full power is not really available all the time it seemed.