Ouch. That can't be much fun. :)

I (and, I suspect, a few others - http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-friends-electric-dre ... ) have had certain concerns on the promotion of electric power as non-polluting.

When it is in this form, aside from the consequences of manufacture, it seems a rare beacon of solar-powered reality in transport. To get a craft charged up, aloft and to its destination with no power input other than the sun is awesome.

It seems viable battery capacity is the only restriction on realising his dream of a 2 or 4-seat version, which is where the practicalities of personal or indeed small-scale cargo (couriers?) transportation kick in.

Now all we need in the UK is the weather. Mind you, looking out the window, and with a certain sense of irony global-warming-wise, that may soon not be such a problem.

Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

The thing is that getting into the air takes a lot of power, cruising not as much.  Given a few more generations of batteries their weight will approach the weight of liquid fuel, for the equivalent amount of energy.

A hybrid turbofan engine would cruise on battery power.  The takeoff would use liquid fuel through solid oxide fuel cells that would generate electricity directly to power the hybrid turbofan.

Then the very hot exhaust gases from the solid oxide fuel cell would provide additional power by expanding through the turbine in the turbofan engine.  This would yield very high efficiency, several times the efficiency of a normal turbofan aircraft engine.

When the aircraft got to cruising altitude the batteries, previously charged on the ground from renewable energy, would take over.  

Solar panels on the wings?  Still too heavy, but who knows?  

Maybe with an almost lighter than air helium filled silicon bubble aircraft that uses solar heat to climb then glides/flys to it's destination on direct solar electric power?  By designing solar concentrators into the structure, solar cells could be 1/10nth the size and weight and operate at 39% efficiency.  This efficiency with concentration has been proven at the National Renewable Energy Labratory.

A lighter than air foam made from helium filled silicon bubbles has already been developed too.  And this silicon compound is extremely strong.  

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

Maybe solar panels are light enough?  Still that 39%, 1/10nth the weight design would really rock!

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin