MARTIN ETZL - AIRCRAFT DESIGN
WHY AIR TRANSPORTATION?
Can such a concept compete against high speed trains?
The simple answer is: No
Existing high speed railway connections are the most economic and environmental friendly solution. Trains combine high speed with high passenger transport capacity and high passenger comfort.
However, if it comes to metropolitan areas or other difficult terrain without existing high speed railway tracks, the only way for fast passenger transportation is the sky.
THE FLEXIBILITY
For a VTOL-transportation-system, it is very easy to change capacity, change routes and add landing sites and new routes.
Total flexibility in the route network design offers operators the possibility to adapt to the continuously changing passenger demand without taking the risk of investing in fixed infrastructure.
​
THE COST BENEFIT
It is necessary to invest up to 60 million $ per mile in the construction of a high speed railway track and 120,000 $ per year and mile in maintainance.
For a metropolitan express line with a length of 15 miles, an investment of 900 million $ plus an investment in trains would be necessary.Â
In comparison to railroad, the investment for a landing site, the VTOL-aircraft-fleet and a maintainance site will be just one third or less.
THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
No matter which technology will bring us the future, air mobility will never be as energy efficient as public ground transport.Â
However, air mobility can be relatively efficient as well as climate-neutral.
If the fuel will be generated of excess energy from regenerative energy, the fuel production can be cost efficient as well as climate-neutral and so the transportation system will offer an added value for the society.
THE AVERAGE SPEED
Modern trains reach top speeds of 300 km/h or  more. What matters more is the average speed, because it defines the travel time. Especially on shorter routes, it is important to have a fast acceleration and deceleration. On a 15 mile distance, our VTOL concept would reach an average speed of 240 km/h, while modern trains can reach an average speed of 160 km/h.