N. Aircraft Improvements

N1. Slower aircraft will use less fuel

A bicycle-powered airplane has been pedaled over the English Channel. This athletic feat illustrates the fact that air travel need not be an energy hog. Air friction is related to air velocity raised to the third power. Cutting air velocity in half reduces air friction, perhaps the major component of fuel use, by a factor of 8.

We want to design slower, far more energy-efficient aircraft. Airlines interested only in profit will complain that cutting air velocity in half increases their labor costs. However, most of an airline's labor costs are for the people on the ground including upper management.

N2. Electric batteries for puddle jumpers

Cape Air uses all-electric planes powered by lithium-ion batteries on its runs to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It will be possible to increase the range of battery-powered commercial planes by reducing their air speeds.