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Re:Powering Planes with Microwaves Is Not the Craziest Idea by aidenn0 on Monday June 24, 2024 @02:20PM (#40779163)
Isn't cruising power much lower than takeoff power? Having enough batteries for takeoff would make these number much smaller.

A lower cruise speed would also decrese these numbers. There is a point in the efficiency curve when it increases the total energy used, but still decreases the power. Maybe it's not a big difference, but using the takeoff power seems unnecessarily pessimistic.

Re:Powering Planes with Microwaves Is Not the Craziest Idea by throwaway89201 on Monday June 24, 2024 @03:23PM (#40779679)
Takeoff could even be wired (to be dropped at take off), or power could be delivered through a pantograph-like contraption.