Important Innovations

  Air One eVTOL Successfully Transition from Hover to Cruising                                                       Source:  Air Air Goes For FAA Approval For Israeli startup company Air, their eVTOL Air One has reached a significant milestone.  The personal flying machine has successfully transitioned from hovering to cruising.  Several months ago, it also nailed lift-off to hover.  What this means is that Air can now go after FAA certification for Air One to fly and operate in the US.  The Israeli company is now shifting most of its operations to the US to focus on achieving necessary regulatory approval to fly here.  This new urban air mobility technology is definitely in the take-off lane. It's a fully electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Tech Specs Air One is designed for personal owners who want to make short flights around urban areas.  It is not intended to be a commercial flying taxi.  Nonetheless, it appears to be a significant aviation breakthrough.  The eVTO

  Air One eVTOL Successfully Transition from Hover to Cruising                                                       Source:  Air Air Goes For FAA Approval For Israeli startup company Air, their eVTOL Air One has reached a significant milestone.  The personal flying machine has successfully transitioned from hovering to cruising.  Several months ago, it also nailed lift-off to hover.  What this means is that Air can now go after FAA certification for Air One to fly and operate in the US.  The Israeli company is now shifting most of its operations to the US to focus on achieving necessary regulatory approval to fly here.  This new urban air mobility technology is definitely in the take-off lane. It's a fully electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Tech Specs Air One is designed for personal owners who want to make short flights around urban areas.  It is not intended to be a commercial flying taxi.  Nonetheless, it appears to be a significant aviation breakthrough.  The eVTO

  Archer Aviation's Midnight                                             Source:  Archer Aviation Targets Commercial Operations Late 2024 - 2025 San Jose, California-based Archer Aviation has unveiled its flagship air taxi, Midnight eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle). Company Co-founder and CEO Adan Goldstein says that Midnight is likely to be the first flying taxi to be certified by the FAA and to fly in the US by late 2024.  250 of these 12-rotor, all-electric, zero emissions and very low noise level aircraft will be commercially launched in 2025 in a partnership with United Airlines. They will serve as a network of air taxis for urban air mobility in the US.  The eVTOLs carry a pilot and 4 passengers. Mission, Purpose & Tech Specs Midnight is designed to fly a 100-mile range on a charge.  But it will start flying city routes, like downtown to the airport and back, and will focus on 20-mile, back-to-back short hops with ten-minute charging sessions built in

  Samson Sky's Switchblade                                    Source:  Samson Sky's Switchblade USA Flying, Driving Car Samson Sky's Switchblade is a real flying and driving car that will hit the market within weeks of getting FAA approval. The company calls it a flying sports car and it brings the lure of flying cars from science fiction territory to a concrete reality. The FAA has deemed the Oregon-built, Ferrari-red, very cool looking vehicle safe to fly and undergo flight testing.  That positions the flying sportscar to being possibly within weeks of going to market. The inventors and developers at Oregon-based Samson Sky have spent 14 years building what looks like a magnificent flying and driving machine. Fascinating Tech Specs The vehicle has been designed as a luxury car with a hybrid-electric drive system.  When it lands, the wings fold into the sides of the vehicle like a switchblade.  It has a Samson SC 200 3-cylinder gasoline engine along with a Skybird electric

  Samson Sky's Switchblade - Awesome Tech                                    Source:  Samson Sky's Switchblade USA Flying, Driving Car How much would you love having this sleek, flying/driving car in your driveway?  Don't know about you, but I would love it!! Samson Sky's Switchblade is a real flying and driving car that will hit the market within weeks of getting FAA approval after more flight tests. The company calls it a flying sports car and it brings the lure of flying cars from science fiction territory to concrete reality. The FAA has deemed the Oregon-built, Ferrari-red, very cool looking vehicle safe to fly and undergo flight testing.  That positions the flying/driving sportscar to being, possibly within weeks, on the market for purchase. The inventors and developers at Oregon-based Samson Sky have spent 14 years building what looks like a magnificent flying and driving machine. Fascinating Tech Specs The vehicle has been designed as a luxury car with a hybrid-

  FAA Approves Small Drones Flying Over People & At Night                                                      Source:  Amazon Opens the Way to Widespread Commercial Drone Deliveries The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just approved small drones flying over people and at night.  This regulatory clearance is viewed as enabling the start of widespread commercial drone package deliveries in the US.  For companies like Amazon, Walmart and UPS, this is a long-awaited decision and a big business opportunity.  Until now, drones have been restricted to very limited operations involving direct participants and required FAA clearance and waivers for more public exposure, such as testing drone package deliveries in specific neighborhoods. Security Issues The FAA is addressing security concerns by requiring remote identification technology on the drones so they can be identified from the ground.  The new regulations take effect in March.  Drone manufacturers have up to 18 months to p

FAA Re-writing the Rules Source:  NASA Supersonic Concept Flying Beyond the Speed of Sound At the Paris Air Show, FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell said the United States is changing the regulations to enable testing and the reintroduction of supersonic flights for passengers.  This is a major milestone for the return of civilian supersonic flights in the United States. New Generations of SST For the flying public and aviation enthusiasts, this is exciting news because there are many innovative supersonic aircraft projects well underway.  Companies like Boom Technologies and Aerion, as well as NASA, are working on next generation SST aircraft to replace the Concorde which ended flights in 2003.  The FAA's plans will give these companies a more efficient process to make SST travel a reality again. Elwell added the FAA and US Department of Transportation are committed to safe and environmentally sound R&D of supersonic aircraft.

FAA Gives 1st Approval for Drone Package Deliveries to Google Source:  Google Drone Google Drone Package Deliveries to Start in Virginia in a Few Months Package deliveries by drones in the United States has been approved for Google by the FAA.  Google is cleared to start drone delivery service in Virginia.  Operations are expected to get airborne in a few months.  Google calls it Project Wing.  The drones are expected to cut costs and time for package deliveries.   For more on this news development, go to Important Innovations Collection: Drone Deliveries to Your Door : Google Wins First FAA Approval to Deliver Packages by Drones Source:  Google Drone Starts in Virginia Google is now on its way to de...

Space Tourist Gets Astronaut Wings Source:  Virgin Galactic:  Test Passenger Onboard this space flight gets astronaut wings  FAA Gives Virgin Galactic A Space Passenger Okay The FAA called this occasion as "the start of commercial human space flight is now a reality". Virgin Galactic's first test passenger for a journey to space received her commercial astronaut wings from the FAA, the US government's aviation regulatory agency.  That is a very big deal in the journey Virgin Galactic has taken to launch vacation tourists into space.  The woman flew in Virgin Galactic's rocket plane White Knight Two/Spaceship Two Passenger Craft to experience the space journey from a customer perspective. It was a big success. NASA Engineer The passenger is no novice.  Beth Moses is Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor and a former NASA engineer.  She's also now the first woman to fly to space on a commercial vehicle. What an accomplishment!  She was on t