Assisted Takeoff Strategies for Supersonic Aircrafts
To offset the currently scarce battery density supersonic electric aircrafts could use assisted launch strategies to save upto 5 - 35% of battery capacity needed for takeoff and intial climb. Catapults are commonly used on aircraft carriers and are tried and tested , they could be installed in high volume airports owing to high infrastructure costs. Airship assisted launch if scaled well to could offer significant savings in the long run. 7-10% per takeoff is a massive saving. With companies like Airship Industries already building airships for cargo electric supersonic aircraft could be retrofitted to launch until high volume necessitates specially built airships.
1. Electromagnetic Catapult
- Energy Savings: 35% (630 kJ/kg)
- Initial Speed: 100-150 m/s
- System Cost: $30-40M for infrastructure
Technical Requirements
- Power substation: 15-20 MW peak
- Track length: 200-300m
- Acceleration: 3-4 G
- Cooling systems
- Control systems
Advantages
- Highest energy savings
- Weather independent
- Repeatable launches
- No onboard launch fuel/equipment
- Precise control
Disadvantages
- High initial infrastructure cost
- Fixed location
- High peak power demand
- Complex maintenance
Operational Considerations
- Launch cycle time: 15-20 minutes
- Crew requirements: 3-4 technicians
- Annual maintenance: 2-3 weeks
- Power infrastructure needed
2. Hybrid Propulsion
- Energy Savings: 25% (450 kJ/kg)
- Initial Speed: 80-100 m/s
- System Cost: $2-3M per aircraft modification
Technical Requirements
- Fuel storage: 200-300 kg capacity
- Dual propulsion systems
- Modified fuel management
- Enhanced cooling systems
Advantages
- Flexible operations
- No fixed infrastructure
- Proven technology
- Multiple launch locations
Disadvantages
- Added weight penalty
- System complexity
- Fuel logistics
- Reduced payload capacity
Operational Considerations
- Pre-flight prep: 1-2 hours
- Additional maintenance
- Fuel availability needed
- Dual certification required
3. Rocket-Assisted Take-Off (RATO)
- Energy Savings: 20% (360 kJ/kg)
- Initial Speed: 120-180 m/s
- System Cost: $50-75K per launch
Technical Requirements
- Solid rocket boosters
- Launch attachment points
- Jettison mechanisms
- Safety systems
Advantages
- Simple system
- High thrust
- Minimal aircraft modification
- Location flexible
Disadvantages
- Single-use boosters
- High per-launch cost
- Safety concerns
- Recovery requirements
Operational Considerations
- Setup time: 30-45 minutes
- Special handling requirements
- Hazardous materials
- Recovery operations
4. Airship Assisted
- Energy Savings: 7% (126 kJ/kg)
- Initial Speed: 15-20 m/s
- System Cost: $15-20M for airship system
Technical Requirements
- Airship volume: 6,244 m³
- Height capability: 25,000 ft
- Release mechanism
- Weather monitoring
Advantages
- Zero-runway operations
- Low noise
- Environmentally friendly
- Multiple launch locations
Disadvantages
- Minimal energy benefit
- Weather dependent
- Complex operations
- Large support team
Operational Considerations
- Weather limitations: 70% of days
- Setup time: 3-4 hours
- Helium replenishment
- Large ground crew required
5. Subsonic Climb (Baseline)
- Energy Savings: 0% (baseline)
- Initial Speed: 80-100 m/s
- System Cost: No additional cost
Technical Requirements
- Standard runway
- Normal takeoff systems
- Standard aircraft systems
- Regular maintenance
Advantages
- Simple operations
- Proven approach
- No special equipment
- Flexible locations
Disadvantages
- No energy savings
- Full battery weight
- Longer acceleration phase
- Higher energy usage
Operational Considerations
- Standard flight operations
- Normal maintenance
- Regular crew requirements
- Standard facilities
Comparative Metrics
Cost per Launch (USD)
- Subsonic: $200-300
- EM Catapult: $500-700
- Hybrid: $1,000-1,500
- Airship: $3,000-4,000
- RATO: $50,000-75,000
Weather Dependency (% of Operable Days)
- EM Catapult: 95%
- Subsonic: 90%
- Hybrid: 90%
- RATO: 85%
- Airship: 30%
Setup Time
- Subsonic: 30 min
- EM Catapult: 15 min
- Hybrid: 90 min
- RATO: 45 min
- Airship: 240 min
Infrastructure Requirements (1-10 scale)
- Subsonic: 3
- RATO: 4
- Hybrid: 5
- EM Catapult: 8
- Airship: 9
Maintenance Complexity (1-10 scale)
- Subsonic: 3
- RATO: 4
- Hybrid: 7
- EM Catapult: 8
- Airship: 9
Technical Risk (1-10 scale)
- Subsonic: 2
- Hybrid: 4
- RATO: 6
- EM Catapult: 7
- Airship: 9
Except for first paragraph commentary ,text and graph from claude.