More proof of the U.S. downfall. Viva la france!

[ravagon]

Originally posted by PLATO
I read somewhere that this plane is the largest that current technology will support. To get bigger they would have to invent a different type of wing material or something...can't remember the details.

That's interesting. I'm a little surprised at the apparent interest and projected sales though if it's true.
I have to wonder what the long term operating consequences will be in pushing the limits thusly.
It might look good on paper today only to turn into a maintainance pumpkin in a few years time with actual operating stresses taking their toll ...

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Dissident
I do believe there won't be much demand for this jet except for international overseas travel. But for travel within the contiental U.S. I just don't see much use for something that big.

The most profitable routes now are the trans-pacific flights, and they are always packed.

Besides, you are forgetting the huge domestic markets in India and China. These counties have people - lots and lots of them.

[:) Smiley]

At high enough densities to make high-speed rail a better choice.

Air transport's best purpose is to cross oceans, where trains can't go, and there's no one to complain about the noise.

[Ted Striker]

NASA and Boeing are actually working on a prototype that is 3 times the size of this plane, though not sure if there are plans for production yet.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Smiley
At high enough densities to make high-speed rail a better choice.

Air transport's best purpose is to cross oceans, where trains can't go, and there's no one to complain about the noise.

How energy efficient are these rails? Air flights are surprisingly energy efficient. A small one-person plane uses much less fuel than a regular car, for example.

[:) Smiley]

I'm not sure, since rail uses electricity while airplanes burn gas.

Some research now: In Japan, air prices are slightly cheaper than Shinkansen due to recent deregulation of airlines. Shinkansen remains attractive though since the stations are much closer to downtown and better connected to other transit systems. They have the additional benefit of a better on-time schedule: the average delay on Japanese Shinkansen is 12 seconds.

[Urban Ranger]

I think high speed rail links are good for intra-city travels and for cities close to each other. Though the exact requirements for the railroads themselves make them poor carriers for long distance travel.

[Ted Striker]

.

[Dinner]

They've been promising to build the California High Speed Rail Network for two decades now but neither the state nor the feds ever seem to come up with the money. I know about four years ago a commericial company was talking about building a bullet train between LA and Las Vegas but they went bankrupt before construction even started.

Arnie has a commision looking at a rail network which would have four routes. The first would be a south coast route between San Diego and Santa Barbara, the second would go between San Diego and Sacramento up the central valley, the third would go from San Fransisco to Reno/Tahoe, and the fourth would go from LA to Las Vegas. I'd like to see some bay area lines but supposedly they'll have to be contented with bart for the time being.

[DanS]

Try to order vegetarian or kosher meal next time. You get better food and you are usually served first too, so you can wave your elbows around a bit more

I've done this a couple times. Worked well once. Backfired the other time.

[DanS]

Regarding high speed rail between LA and Vegas, you may have advocates in the big casino companies, depending on the cost. They funded the Las Vegas monorail, IIRC.

[Sikander]

Air travel is poor for fuel economy. Sure a one person (ultralight) aircraft is more fuel efficient than a car. It is also slower, much less safe and less reliable. Jet travel is safer than automobile traffic, and faster too. The tradeoff is that it is more expensive largely because of fuel costs.

[Dis]

Originally posted by DanS
Regarding high speed rail between LA and Vegas, you may have advocates in the big casino companies, depending on the cost. They funded the Las Vegas monorail, IIRC.

they've been talking of high speed rail between LA and Las Vegas for so many years now. I'll believe it when I see it

Eventually you would think it has to happen. Already the strip is almost unusuable for passenger vehicles. They really should concentrate on getting people here, not their cars.

The bigges obstacle is cost. The second is risk. The cost wouldn't be a big deal if there was some assurance they can make a profit.

I'm not even sure if our monorail will even make a profit. But it's been doing okay so far (and it's winter time as well).

[DanS]

It seems that people and businesses in Las Vegas are very practical about this stuff and don't mind spending large for a large payoff. It's very refreshing.

I wonder why they aren't on the fast track for extending the monorail to the airport, though. I heard that a new airport is in the works?

[Dis]

Originally posted by DanS
It seems that people and businesses in Las Vegas are very practical about this stuff and don't mind spending large for a large payoff. It's very refreshing.

I wonder why they aren't on the fast track for extending the monorail to the airport, though. I heard that a new airport is in the works?

I haven't heard much about a new airport. Except by jean, nevada. which is 22 miles from Vegas. Environmental and noise pollution regulations will prevent any further airports in the valley I'm sure.

The plan was (not sure if it still is) after the other airport is built, there would be high speed rail to bring the people into Vegas. Or possibly they would just use the airport for cargo and have Mccarin airport just for passengers.

I would say we don't have enough room, but since the monorail is elevated- we have plenty of room. I would imagine the high speed rail would have to be elevated. Though there still are some undeveloped areas right alongside the interstate they could build on. But for some reason they didn't extend the monorail to the airport. I think the taxicab lobby may have prevented that. Eventually they do want to extend the monorail to downtown though. As it is you have to get off the monorail and get the connector bus to get dowtown.