Time to bring back propeller driven planes ...

[sasguru]

... before the volcano, was reading an article that these were making a comeback on certain routes due to frugality, less noise and generally being greener all round.
Do they also cope better with ash?

[Platypus]

... before the volcano, was reading an article that these were making a comeback on certain routes due to frugality, less noise and generally being greener all round.
Do they also cope better with ash?

Not particularly - they still draw in air.

[Platypus]

Electric engines are, apparently, the way forward. Powered using Tesla's method for transmitting electrical power wirelessly.

http://www.damninteresting.com/teslas-tower-of-power

[TimberWolf]

The most green method would be to move massive amounts of air slowly, rather than small amounts really fast. Like a big wing that pushes down and backwards, or even two wings. I'm surprised nature hasn't already thought of it.

[TimberWolf]

I don't see why propellor planes wouldn't be workable in dusty conditions with minor modification to the air intakes and filtering. They are basically like car engines. Turbo props may be another matter though.

[Churchill]

Electric engines are, apparently, the way forward. Powered using Tesla's method for transmitting electrical power wirelessly.

http://www.damninteresting.com/teslas-tower-of-power

Flash-forward...

[sasguru]

I don't see why propellor planes wouldn't be workable in dusty conditions with minor modification to the air intakes and filtering. They are basically like car engines. Turbo props may be another matter though.

That was my thinking.
Turbo props basically work like jets but surely you could make air-tight the working (spinning) parts of a standard propeller plane?

[Churchill]

That was my thinking.
Turbo props basically work like jets but surely you could make air-tight the working (spinning) parts of a standard propeller plane?

You still have to mix air and fuel, even in a piston powered aircraft. Currently the air is full of volcanic dust.

Gas turbines are more effective than piston engines at higher altitudes unless you have a turbo/super charger compressing the air first.

Also bear in mind how fast the tip of the propeller would be travelling to even try and provide the amount of thrust to enable it to travel at any decent speeds.

[sasguru]

You still have to mix air and fuel, even in a piston powered aircraft. Currently the air is full of volcanic dust.

Gas turbines are more effective than piston engines at higher altitudes unless you have a turbo/super charger compressing the air first.

Also bear in mind how fast the tip of the propeller would be travelling to even try and provide the amount of thrust to enable it to travel at any decent speeds.

Yes but can't you filter the air before mixing it/or compressing it?
We may not be able to build stuff or mass manufacture it but this sort of Heath Robinson stuff is what the British do best.

[Mich the Tester]

Yes but can't you filter the air before mixing it/or compressing it?
We may not be able to build stuff or mass manufacture it but this sort of Heath Robinson stuff is what the British do best.

You'd need an exceptionally fine filter.