Wednesday 24th June 2020
Steve Wright: Greta may yet fly again!
— Smoke and Mirrors A talk about electric aircraft
time:19:30
price:
entry is free
Information:
Bristol Skeptics in the Pub presents a talk by Steve Wright
The science fiction of the 1950s imagined that by now middle-class families would be commuting to work in flying cars. That hasn’t happened, but within five years consumers may find themselves making journeys in something close: the flying taxi. Such “electric vertical take-off and landing” (eVTOL) systems will fly a small number of passengers up to 20 miles quickly, cheaply and without burning carbon. Dr Steve Wright will discuss the engineering and regulatory challenges for these vehicles and how soon we might see them in Bristol.
Dr Wright will also look further ahead to 2040 and 2050, when the aviation industry might finally crack the carbon challenge and produce electric planes. Greta Thunburg may yet fly again! But will batteries become light and powerful enough to make such dreams realistic? And will electric planes be safe?
DOORS: 19:00
START: 19:30
Admission is FREE but during the interval we asks for donations. This is to cover speaker expenses and marketing costs such as social media fees and flyers. If you cannot afford to make a donation please do not. If you can, £3-£5 would be greatly appreciated.
Venue: Smoke and Mirrors, 8 Denmark Street
Two for one pizzas available from the bar!
10% off all drinks!
Dr Steve Wright is a Senior Research Fellow and lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at the University of the West of England. He has spent 25 years as a software, electronics and systems engineer at Rolls-Royce, ST Microelectronics, and Airbus. He has contributed to the development of the Airbus A320, A330, A340, A380, A400M, A350, and Boeing 747, 757, 767, and 777.
Dr Wright’s research is focused on Avionics and Aircraft Systems, particularly in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He founded the Unmanned Flight Laboratory (UFL) at the UWE, developing UAV technologies for a variety of industrial customers.
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What is Skeptics in the Pub?
In 1999, Dr Scott Campbell founded Skeptics in the Pub. The group was created for those interested in science, history, psychology, philosophy, investigative journalism and how to examine extraordinary claims of all types. Initially only in London, there now be over 100 SitP groups around the world.
The Bristol meeting is presented by the Bristol Skeptics Society, formed in 2009. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the Smoke & Mirrors bar on Denmark Street.
A speaker is invited each month to present a topic of interest, which is followed by a discussion in a relaxed and friendly pub atmosphere. Previous speakers in Bristol include Simon Singh, David Colquhon, David Nutt and Susan Blackmore.
There are no tickets, just show up!
You can find us on Facebook, Meetup, Eventbrite, Headfirst and Bristolskeptics.com
The science fiction of the 1950s imagined that by now middle-class families would be commuting to work in flying cars. That hasn’t happened, but within five years consumers may find themselves making journeys in something close: the flying taxi. Such “electric vertical take-off and landing” (eVTOL) systems will fly a small number of passengers up to 20 miles quickly, cheaply and without burning carbon. Dr Steve Wright will discuss the engineering and regulatory challenges for these vehicles and how soon we might see them in Bristol.
Dr Wright will also look further ahead to 2040 and 2050, when the aviation industry might finally crack the carbon challenge and produce electric planes. Greta Thunburg may yet fly again! But will batteries become light and powerful enough to make such dreams realistic? And will electric planes be safe?
DOORS: 19:00
START: 19:30
Admission is FREE but during the interval we asks for donations. This is to cover speaker expenses and marketing costs such as social media fees and flyers. If you cannot afford to make a donation please do not. If you can, £3-£5 would be greatly appreciated.
Venue: Smoke and Mirrors, 8 Denmark Street
Two for one pizzas available from the bar!
10% off all drinks!
Dr Steve Wright is a Senior Research Fellow and lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at the University of the West of England. He has spent 25 years as a software, electronics and systems engineer at Rolls-Royce, ST Microelectronics, and Airbus. He has contributed to the development of the Airbus A320, A330, A340, A380, A400M, A350, and Boeing 747, 757, 767, and 777.
Dr Wright’s research is focused on Avionics and Aircraft Systems, particularly in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He founded the Unmanned Flight Laboratory (UFL) at the UWE, developing UAV technologies for a variety of industrial customers.
===
What is Skeptics in the Pub?
In 1999, Dr Scott Campbell founded Skeptics in the Pub. The group was created for those interested in science, history, psychology, philosophy, investigative journalism and how to examine extraordinary claims of all types. Initially only in London, there now be over 100 SitP groups around the world.
The Bristol meeting is presented by the Bristol Skeptics Society, formed in 2009. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the Smoke & Mirrors bar on Denmark Street.
A speaker is invited each month to present a topic of interest, which is followed by a discussion in a relaxed and friendly pub atmosphere. Previous speakers in Bristol include Simon Singh, David Colquhon, David Nutt and Susan Blackmore.
There are no tickets, just show up!
You can find us on Facebook, Meetup, Eventbrite, Headfirst and Bristolskeptics.com
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