> You also need a massive amount of power during takeoff and landing
assuming a dedicated (specialised) takeoff/landing strip/apparatus - this could be solved by land-based assistance? Like (friken') lasers or something?
Already done with gliders via ground-based winches, which once "bootstrapped" with enough height and forward momentum are usually self-sustaining, but you have to be in weather conditions suitable for it - thermals and such.
It's wildly impractical at scale. It's not just takeoff, either. It's climb. There is no way to assist a flight up to 30,000+ feet.
It's wildly impractical at scale. It's not just takeoff, either. It's climb. There is no way to assist a flight up to 30,000+ feet.