When will the last Airplane Fly?

[Carnea]

Unlike cars and trains and ships it seems large commercial Airlines need oil.

So what year will the last commercial flight be? Will it be in out lifetime or like whale-oil streetlights will science find a substitute. I think it will be sooner than we think.

My guess 2046

Post your guess to the last flight date (Oil based commercial) below.

[Aviation Pro]

1. Nope....

...there are several government and private organizations that are conducting trials on alternative fuels as substitutes for oil-based fuels. The airlines are partnered in this effort so the death of aviation is greatly exaggerated.

The real question is when will passengers willingly step on an airplane that has no pilots aboard.

[maxsolomon]

3. i'd rather give up cars & trucks

add euro-speed rail, and keep jet travel. jet travel is amazing. even thought being treated like cattle is insulting, getting from Seattle to London in 10 hours over the pole is pretty mind-blowing.

[margotb822]

13. I will

I'm no expert, but as I understand it, pilots mostly use autopilot in flight. There has already been much success with UAVs in the military (which are operated remotely). I can see that moving to commercial flight in the future. Of course, it will take all the "maverick" out of being a pilot.

[backscatter712]

18. They're coming closer to the day...

When an airliner's cockpit will contain the controls and instrumentation, a pilot who does nothing but watch the instrumentation while the plane flies itself, and a rottweiler that's trained to bite the pilot if he touches anything.

[Aviation Pro]

21. Last time I heard that....

...I fell out of my Jenny.

[MercutioATC]

2. Hopefully, not before April 17, 2016.

...that's the day I retire.

[MrCoffee]

4. August 19, 2022...

Trust me.

[lame54]

5. Whenever it is it will probably be late arriving

[LiberalEsto]

6. I don't know, but the luggage

will show up in 3011, if ever.

[Deja Q]

7. I dunno, but will we have to pay for the flight attendants?

I mean, if we're paying for the peanuts now, just wait... those prices will be peanuts by comparison. :crazy:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

11. only if she's really goood

:evilgrin:

[Make7]

8. New Biofuel for Jets in the Works

 

A new biofuel for jet engine could be in the works. Researchers in North Dakota say they have been working for four years on a process that converts soybean or canola oil into aviation turbine fuel. The biofuel, which is now almost ready for an Air Force test, runs colder and cheaper than conventional jet fuel and is more environmentally friendly, the Grand Forks Herald reported on Friday.

The researchers said they have found a way to solve a problem with the fuel's tendency to "gel" at low temperatures, and that it is now working at temperatures of 75 below zero (Fahrenheit). Air Force scientists have tested earlier versions of the fuel, and found it performed as well as regular JP-8 jet fuel. The biofuel is being studied by a new sustainable-energy initiative between the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University in Fargo.

See also this previous post with a discussion about biodiesel in jets, and this post discussing Virgin's idea to use ethanol in their jets.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/new_biofuel_for.php

[Marrah_G]

9. Not for a very , very long time

Even after we are all fling in new technology there will be collectors with the old planes.

[dysfunctional press]

10. not in any of our lifetimes, that's for sure...(unless there's a MAJOR earth-changing event)

they've already developed aviation grade biofuel.

[masmdu]

12. Never...FUEL-LESS airplanes are already in the works...Great Idea!...Link here

NO FUEL, NO POLLUTION, NO NOISE, ENDLESS DISTANCE

http://www.fuellessflight.com/index1.htm

[TahitiNut]

14. Destroyers, cruisers, bombers, strike fighters, helicopters ....

... you can bet your sweet ass the commercial flights will be stopped before the military machine is threatened.

[Ganja Ninja]

15. No way that is gonna happen unless all of civilization falls.

We will have fuel for planes if we have to brew it up from coal.

[Fumesucker]

16. I have no earthly idea

But you'll have to change planes in Atlanta.. :)

[neverforget]

17. With these fuel prices, the airlines will not exist in their current form

nor will as many people be able to afford to fly. I think that airline flying is heading back to the 50's and 60's model: business and wealthy travelers with very few everyday folks. It's just going to be too expensive for the middle class to fly.

[CK_John]

19. A week before the convention in Denver. To keep the delagtes from voting. n/t

[krispos42]

20. We'll be using electric or ethanol airplanes

I mean, in 50 years can you imagine how much energy we'll be able to store in a battery or ultracapacitor?

Of course this depends on propeller-driven aircraft, not jets, but new-design propeller aircraft are almost as fast as jets.

Check this out:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=115137