Planes, Trains and Automobiles
First came PayPal. Then there was the creation of SpaceX and shuttling cargo to the International Space Station. Tesla’s electric cars were soon to follow, then came the idea for the Hyperloop.
Now it seems Elon Musk is looking into how to make electric-powered planes.
In a brief Q&A for the Hyperloop Pod ceremony, Musk was asked to tell the audience about his “next great idea,” to which he answered—
“Well I have been thinking about the vertical takeoff and landing electric jet a bit more. I mean, I think I have something that might close. I’m quite tempted to do something about it.”
Supersonic Electric Jet
This is not the first time anyone has ever considered creating an electric jet capable of vertical take-off and landing. In June last year, an electric aircraft managed to cross the English Channel for the first time. Denver-based Xti Aircraft Company has also been trying to raise funds to develop a prototype of an aircraft capable of a vertical-takeoff, which they claim may be ready in 3 years.
But as early as October of 2015, Musk started talking about the idea of creating a single aircraft that not only ran on electricity but was also able to take off vertically. “I think one could do a pretty cool supersonic, vertical takeoff and landing electric jet. That would be really fun… I have a design in mind for that,” he told Marketplace.
Hopefully, Musk is now ready to take it a step further.
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