A two stage plane would fit well with the high altitude flight scenario Elon mentioned years ago.
787 glide ratio is around 20:1. If you can get a similar airfoil to 30k ft, that's 100 miles of free range.
And then there is this:
Eviation is using masses of data from the first flight of its all-electric Alice commuter aircraft last year to inform the design of the production version.
aviationweek.com
Newly designed airlines such as A350-1000 +now use continuous adapting wings )AKA: morphing) that end out yielding much greater wing efficiency. The B787-9 publicly alleged 20:1 is, I am reliably told, understated and that the A350-1000 is around 26:1. In reality both of these could be much better, say >30:1 were they to not require all the efficiency compromises needs for maximum gross takeoff. Considering that these very long haul variants haul well over 50% Max Gross Weight in fuel, eliminating the need to takeoff and climb fuel and aerodynamics compromised would save as much as 20% of fuel load.
Note on current efficiency: A350-1000 and B787-9 have typical cruise speed of M.85, faster than those of their predecessors while consuming less fuel, that is almost entirely the result of better aerodynamics, although new engines helped too.
All this only peripherally related to Tesla, of course, but Tesla is the only OEM of which I am aware that obsesses on aerodynamics and specifically parasite drag to the extent they do.
Just for fun I looked under a SP85D and a S Plaid. Try it, that helps explain how the latter is more energy efficient than the former.
With all the discussion about CD and frontal areas, few think of tires and undercarriage, mirrors and windshield wipers. The Tesla progress has been impressive in these areas.
At the moment my issue is that Cybertruck does not appear to have so much visual evidence of that thinking in wheels, though it seems to do so elsewhere especially in that tonneau cover, perhaps the least recognized efficiency tool in Cybertruck.
Who will supply all the batteries, BMS and other innovations the Alice and others will need.
It's hard to see Saft as a player, but perhaps I am biased because fo the 787 debacle.
Tesla says zero about aviation. OTOH Elon was an avid pilot, flying his L-39 happily around the practice area for flight training and aerobatics between LA and Catalina. He undoubtedly has thought about that aircraft efficiency, especially when he swapped his Falcon 900 for the Gulfstream. When will Tesla begin to consider aviation? No mention at all, but Phase 4 certainly will be able to tackle atmospheric pollution from aircraft.
teslamotorsclub.com
