Don't be put off David.

What this episode with Boeings has shown is how far behind the current practice the full size planes are. I guess this is because of the very long gestation period between being designed and gaining airworthy certificates. This is an area where we could have helped them as we identified Lipos catching fire regularly some years ago, and that they cannot easily be extinguished. I like others have seen them catch fire for no apparent reason even when they are not being used or charged. I thought the manganese ones were 'safer', but it appears the term is relative. The great mystery is why Boeing did not opt for A123 batteries which many of us now use as these have been proved much safer and give better discharge characteristics. Also I have not seen any reports of spontaneous combustion with A123 batteries.

John