Why can't they make Passenger aircraft

[emmie]

in the same way as say the Harrier jump jet, with a vertical take off. Wouldn't that save on building more runways. Now i am not saying it can be done, i am most certainly not an expert in aviation, but wouldn't a completely different type of airliner be better than this constant battle for more runways.

[bazwillrun]

For a VTOL craft the size of a 747 fully loaded that would need some serious thrust !

[jake-the-peg]

Because of the astronomic fuel use involved, that's why they developed that ski-jump thing off of aircraft carriers - to save fuel

[emmie]

well as i said have no knowledge of the complexities of the problem, but perhaps it's something for the future. Seeing as how there is a proposal to put another runway at Gatwick airport, which i am sure will be opposed by many.

[emmie]

could they not find an alternative for aviation fuel at some point, as you pointed out the cost is prohibitive.

[Zeuhl]

Harriers

noisy, thirsty, relatively slow in flight and queasy loaded take offs using a ramp.

ie inefficient and impractical in many ways that were compensated somewhat in a military role by other attributes but would be an issue for commercial aircraft

They stopped building the Harrier in 2003 though it's still used by US Marines - due to be replaced soon by american VSTOL Lightning.

[Zeuhl]

<the cost is prohibitive>

Calculating by passenger mile travelled, modern passenger planes are extremely economical users of fuel.

They do need a runway, but in most parts of the world notably (from a development pov) USA and China; space for runways isn't an issue.

[emmie]

zeuhl, i did say in the same way, i know not the Harrier as they has been put out to pasture here. Surely it's time for a bit of lateral thinking on aircraft and the transportation of peoples around the world. Listening to the news promoted me to wonder why they couldn't do it.

[factor-fiction]

Okay- wives2B?

[factor-fiction]

Sorry- I'm going to have to email the Ed as this keeps happening- I was on a totally different thread but my answer appeared here. It keeps happening.

[emmie]

China may have lots of land, but it has lots more people. The population is increasing at an alarming rate, thus spreading out across China, taking up land that used to be used for farming, agriculture. small villages are being swallowed up in the race to modernise, so they may be a massive country, but you still need suitable land and near enough to the large cities.

[grasscarp]

I would spend all day at Heathrow watching vertical landings and take offs. Great entertainment but I dont think it will happen any time soon!

[Zeuhl]

Appreciate your point about lateral thinking em but ultimately economic forces will take the path of least resistance

and the chinese can just take any land they want regardless of local 'objections'

[emmie]

this isn't about local objections, more that much of China and i know it's a big country is under development, and perhaps one day they will find as we have to our cost how much we have lost due to over development. Meanwhile back to my lateral thinking, it's not so far fetched though is it..

[237SJ]

China`s got plans to build 45 new airports in the next few years. They`re certainly expanding, that`s for sure.
Bio fuel has been trialed by quite a few airlines (including BA and Virgin). I guess that will be the way forward eventually.

[emmie]

I remember going to various air shows where the star turn was the Harrier Jump Jet, just to see it hover was really something.

[emmie]

but shouldn't it be up up and away, as opposed to taxi down the runway then off, that bit always got my nerves jangling.

[Zeuhl]

<Bio fuel has been trialed by quite a few airlines (including BA and Virgin). I guess that will be the way forward eventually.>

But where will the land come from to plant and produce enough for the aviation industry?

More forest and natural eco systems sacrificed?

[Zeuhl]

<shouldn't it be up up and away>

That's a balloon you're thinking of em

[emmie]

land is being gobbled up for houses here, and the same surely is true for China, India and many other developing nations.

[emmie]

not a balloon, just a way of going up in the air in the same way that the Harrier did, in fact the same way that a Helicopter does.