The Future Takes Wing: Captain Electro Reviews Wright's Electric Plane

Right. The future, as it turns out, isn’t simply knocking on our doors, it's tearing through the skies above us. It's not in the form of hoverboards, self-lacing shoes, or even tea-making robots – no, it's in the form of an electric plane. And not just any plane, mind you, but the Wright Spirit.

First off, let's get this out of the way. Who's behind this contraption? Well, the chaps at Wright Electric have decided that a plane, one of the most complex machines mankind has ever built, clearly needed a bit more of a challenge. So they thought, "Why not make it electric?". A bit ambitious, don’t you think?

But then again, who am I to judge? After all, they've named themselves after the Wright Brothers - the pioneers who first dared to dream that man could fly. And now these modern-day Wrights dare to dream that flight can be green, quiet, and efficient.

So, let's talk about the plane. They've called it the "Wright Spirit", which sounds more like a motivational poster you'd see in a high school gym than an aircraft. But we'll let that pass. What really matters is whether it can get off the ground without trailing a massive extension cord behind it.

According to their website, this marvel of modern engineering is designed to carry 100 passengers up to 800 miles. Now, I can’t help but wonder, is that 800 miles in a straight line, or will it be like my mobile phone that claims to have a day of battery life, but only if I don't actually use it?

Joking aside, the idea of an electric plane is groundbreaking. But like all groundbreaking ideas, it comes with a pile of questions. For instance, how do you charge an electric plane? Do they have a giant plug and a socket hidden somewhere at the airport? And more importantly, what happens if you forget to unplug it before takeoff?

Now, they assure us that their “advanced battery technology” can handle these minor details. Apparently, it's all very scientific and complex, with lots of big words like "modular" and "energy-dense". So, in layman's terms, it’s a gigantic flying smartphone with wings. Except it won’t fall out of the sky if someone forgets to switch it to airplane mode.

The Wright folks are also keen to point out that the Spirit will be quieter than conventional planes. This is a big selling point if you live near an airport and your peaceful Sunday afternoon is usually punctuated by the ear-splitting roar of jet engines. But what's that sound going to be replaced with? The hum of an electric toothbrush? The whirr of a milk frother? I can't help but feel that aviation is about to get a whole lot less romantic.

In all seriousness, though, the Wright Spirit is a remarkable feat of engineering. It's clear that a lot of work has gone into making this electric dream a reality. If it succeeds, it could revolutionize the way we travel and make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions.

But for now, it's a waiting game. The Wright Spirit is still in its test flight phase, and it remains to be seen whether it can truly live up to its lofty promises.

I'm just hoping that if I do end up on a Wright Spirit flight, they'll remember to charge it before takeoff. I'd rather not end up doing a real-life reenactment of the movie "Sully".