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by jeffreyrogers·4y ago·view on hn ↗
The problem with batteries is they don't lose weight as they discharge[1]. With fuel powered aircraft the fuel is used up over the course of a flight, so that the average weight of the aircraft is substantially less than the starting weight. This means that as flight times increase the advantage shifts more heavily towards fuel powered aircraft.

[1]: actually they do but it's a trivial amount.

1 comments
> actually they do but it's a trivial amount.

That depends on the type of battery. There are battery technologies that aren't closed systems (e.g. iron-air batteries are pure iron when charged, and iron oxide when discharged, pulling the oxygen from external air).