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With the energy efficiency attainable by traveling in the upper atmosphere, this might be the greenest possible long range transportation.

God such a tantalizing solar punk dream. I would love just to hear the inside of an electric commercial airliner at altitude.

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Presumably they would use something like an electrically propelled ducted fan (basically the first stage of a high bypass engine). The noise I imagine would be reasonably similar.

I think a hybrid approach with a high bypass turbo fan powered by an electric motor. The fan could then switch over to a https://newatlas.com/automotive/inside-out-wankel/ when at cruising altitude. Using biofuels, or carbon air capture, we get long range and a closed carbon cycle.

I doubt it would be classical music and whale song playing over a beautifully calm scene..

More like kids watching movies without headphones, over loud conversations and screaming babies if other public transport is anything to go by.

But we can dream!

Experiences vary. I was on a Tokyo subway train (Chūō-Sōbu Line(Local)). For a couple of minutes after boarding it was so quiet that it was eerie. When I started hearing quiet noises I relaxed.

Anyway, mass transit does not have to be noisy. It varies by custom and culture.

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