Important Innovations

  DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane TOP TECH LEADERS WARN OF AI'S POTENTIAL RISKS                                                                         Source: Stock Images Dozens of the worlds leading technologists, including Elon Musk, are calling for a 6-month pause by AI labs in the development of large, powerful AI systems The Open Letter, also signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak & IBM Chief Scientist Grady Booch, says that new AI systems pose "profound risks to society & humanity" The tech giants say AI labs are locked in an "out-of-control race" to develop even more powerful, digital AI minds, that the creators don't understand, "can't predict or reliably control" If the labs don't self-impose a moratorium, the tech leaders are asking for governments to step in & do so The Ope

  Lockheed Martin is Developing a Real-World SR-72 Darkstar                          Source: Top Gun Maverick & Lockheed Martin The World's Fastest Aircraft The blockbuster movie "Top Gun: Maverick" has two top stars:  Tom Cruise as test pilot Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Darkster, the fictional hypersonic aircraft SR-72.  Darkstar was created and designed by the world-famous aviation design group, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, which created the U-2 spy plane, F-22 Raptor, Nighthawk Stealth fighter and more. Now, it turns out that Darkstar is more than a work of fiction. The Skunk Works team is currently working on a real-life version of the SR-72 that is virtually identical to the movie version.  And it may take flight in 2025. The SR-71 Darkstar is based on Lockheed Martin's SR-71, which is a high altitude, long range strategic intelligence aircraft, operated by the US Air Force and NASA.  The movie version is a hypersonic UAV (unmanned ae

  Stratolaunch's Hypersonic Vehicles                                             Source:  Stratolaunch Big Aviation Technology Breakthroughs Mojave, California based, aerospace company Stratolaunch just unveiled its hypersonic vehicle Talon-A, known as TA-O. TA-O prototypes are designed to fly at speeds of Mach 5 or 3,705 mph.  In the very near future, the company intends to launch TA-O from its huge aircraft carrier Roc. Roc is the world's largest plane with a wingspan of 385 feet. It is 238 feet long and 50 feet tall.  It has successfully completed its fifth flight.  Founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the company is setting the pace for huge aviation technology breakthroughs. First Flight The first TA-O prototype vehicle will initially be carried into flight by Roc this year to access how the vehicle impacts Roc's flight dynamics. In 2023, TA-O will be launched from Roc to test Roc's launch and separation capabilities.  The first TA-O is unpowered. 

Stratolaunch's Hypersonic Vehicles                                             Source:  Stratolaunch Big Aviation Technology Breakthroughs Mojave, California based, aerospace company Stratolaunch just unveiled its hypersonic vehicle Talon-A, known as TA-O. TA-O prototypes are designed to fly at speeds of Mach 5 or 3,705 mph.  In the very near future, the company intends to launch TA-O from its huge aircraft carrier Roc. Roc is the world's largest plane with a wingspan of 385 feet. It is 238 feet long and 50 feet tall.  It has successfully completed its fifth flight.  Founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the company is setting the pace for huge aviation technology breakthroughs. First Flight The first TA-O prototype vehicle will initially be carried into flight by Roc this year to access how the vehicle impacts Roc's flight dynamics. In 2023, TA-O will be launched from Roc to test Roc's launch and separation capabilities.  The first TA-O is unpowered.  Si

  Upcoming Hypersonic Passenger Travel                              Source:  Hypersonic Flight Stock Images Venus Aerospace of Houston A Houston, Texas based startup Venus Aerospace is developing a hypersonic space plane capable of flying passengers to anyplace in the world in an hour.  The company is staffed by top aerospace engineers.  The founder and CEO Andrew Duggleby was the head of launch operations for Virgin Orbit, Sir Richard Branson's space company.  The hypersonic space plane that they are developing has the potential to revolutionize passenger travel and bring the world much closer together. Right Out of Science Fiction The hypersonic transport (HST) aircraft is like something out of science fiction, specifically the space plane in Star Trek.  But it is real and is under development.  It would take off from a spaceport and travel to the edges of space, where the rocket engines fire-up and propel the HST at hypersonic speeds.  Venus' goal is to build a network of hi

  Hypersonic Hyperplane Destinus from Switzerland                                                  Source:  Destinus Future of Global Travel in Hyperplanes Switzerland-based Destinus SA is developing a hypersonic, hydrogen powered jet/rocket capable of reaching any destination in the world in one to two hours. The founder and CEO of the company is Mikhail Kokorich, who is a highly successful entrepreneur and called the "Elon Musk of Russia".  The vehicle is a hybrid rocket and jet aircraft, that combines a hydrogen, air breathing jet engine with a rocket engine.  The Chairman of the Advisory Board of Directors of Destinus is Philipp Rosler, who is the former German Minister of Economics and Technology and former Vice Chancellor of Germany.  He believes Destinus will help provide Europe with leadership in aerospace technologies.  This new hypersonic "rocket with wings" is something to watch develop. How Does It Work? Destinus takes off and lands horizontally, like a

  Hermeus Hypersonic Jet                                    Source:  Hermeus Turbine Based Combined Cycle Propulsion System                                                                       Source:  Hermeus Hypersonic Aircraft Top Speeds of Mach 5.5 The Hermeus hypersonic jet with its projected top speed of Mach 5.5 or 4,219 mph is designed to be the world's fastest, reusable, hypersonic jet.  It would bring the flight time between NYC and London down to under one hour.  Hermeus, an aerospace startup headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is partnering with the US Air Force on the development of a hypersonic passenger jet. In a joint development contract, the USAF is providing $60 million for 3 years of development and testing.  The hypersonic jet would also be used by the USAF for critical missions. Hypersonic Travel The hypersonic speed of the aircraft comes from a unique engine system called the turbine based combined cycle or TBCC.  The 2- turbine combination is composed of a s

  Briefings on Exciting Flying Concepts                                  Source:  Amazon Kindle  ASIN : B093J89VF5 Now Available on Amazon and Kindle Edward Kane's latest book "The Future of Flying" has just been published by Amazon and Kindle.  It provides journalistic briefings on the most exciting flying concepts under development including hypersonic and supersonic passengers planes, zero emissions aircraft, flying cars, wing suits, jet packs and more.  To take a look go to  https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B093J89VF5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_SNQCDFM84D9D40FAZ5PJ      I co-authored the book with Ed.

  Flying at 25 Times the Speed of Sound                                                       Source:  DLR Germany's Hypersonic Spaceliner  The German Aerospace Research Institute and DLR, Germany's Research Center for Space & Aeronautics, are developing an incredibly fast, hypersonic commercial aircraft concept called Spaceliner.  The vehicle will fly at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, where space, begins at speeds of 25 Mach or 18,527 mph. It would be capable of getting 50 passengers and a 2 person crew from London to Australia in 90 minutes.   Highly Advanced Hypersonic Technology. Spaceliner is a long range project with the goal of flying passengers by 2040.  The hypersonic aircraft is launched on a rocket.  A second orbiter releases from the rocket booster stage to carry passengers around the world.  The concept is similar to but far more advanced than that of the space shuttle.  Virgin Galactic has a similar approach with its space tourism spaceplane, but with

Mid-November Hypersonic Test in Russian Arctic "Unbeatable" According to President Putin The Russian news agency Tass, citing military sources, reports that Russia tested a hypersonic missile over the Russian Arctic within the past two weeks.  A MIG 31 Intercept jet performed the testing of the Kinjal Dagger hypersonic missile. Ground Target The missile was fired against a ground target at the Pemboi training grounds in Russia's Arctic Komi region.  No other details were provided.  Russian President Vladimir Putin has bragged that the Dagger missile is unbeatable and capable of evading any enemy defenses.  The Kinjal Dagger is said to be capable of hitting targets 1,250 miles away with conventional or nuclear warheads travelling at hypersonic speeds.  Average hypersonic speeds range from Mach 5-10. Danish Defense Warning Meanwhile in its annual risk assessment report, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service warned of a "great power play" shaping up b

The Tempest at Mach 5 Plus Source: Raytheon hypersonic missile concept Source : UK Air Show Concept of Tempest Fighter Jet UK Joins Global Hypersonic Arms Race Britain just announced that it's developing a hypersonic missile, The Tempest, capable of reaching Moscow in 24 minutes. The distance between the UK and Moscow is 1500 miles.  The Tempest will travel at speeds in excess of Mach 5, which is 3,836 mph.  The Royal Air Force is leading the project and just announced partners in the development of the hypersonic propulsion system include Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Reaction Engines.  They've been given 10 million pounds to research, design and develop the high Mach advanced propulsion system on a very fast track. Britain vows to be a leader in hypersonic technology and wants hypersonic capabilities to defend itself. Highly Advanced Hypersonic Weapon The Tempest will be fitted with laser and hypersonic weapons.  And it will be able to fly unmanned.  The Temp

Weapons at Hypersonic Speeds Source:  Russia Hypersonic Missile Test From Supersonic to Hypersonic Arms Race Russia is on a mission to bring the development of supersonic cruise missiles to the hypersonic level. Hypersonic flight starts at five times the speed of sound or one mile per second.  The news comes  from CEO Alexander Leonovo of Russian weapons manufacturer Tactical Missiles Corporation.  He's developing the Onyx supersonic anti-ship missile that can be fired from subs and frigates. The Onyx travels at 2&1/2 times the speed of sound with a 400 mile range.  Leonovo says his focus for Russian defense is to bring missile speeds to hypersonic and increase their operational range. Incredible Speeds Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a flight test center to inspect a MIG 31 jet fighter armed with the hypersonic Kinzhai dagger missile. The missile is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.  The missile can travel at Mach 10 for 1200 miles.  It can ev

Readying for Hypersonic Takeoffs Source:  Image of Hypersonic Vehicle Mach 5 Air Flow and Turbulence An intensive research effort is underway to make hypersonic and supersonic travel faster, safer, quieter and more efficient.  It's being led by a team of aeronautical engineers at the University of  Buffalo.  They are using high performance computing to understand and 3D simulate the air flow around aircraft travelling at Mach 5+.  That's very important because of the turbulence high speed travel generates for the vehicle.  Their research could lead to a new class of aircraft designs.  For a news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Moving to Hypersonic Speeds : Understanding Air Flows Around Hypersonic and Supersonic Vehicles Source:  University of Buffalo 3D computer simulation of turbulence at ...

DARPA's Push for Hypersonic Weapons Defense Source:  DARPA Hypersonic Mach 5 Plus Defensive Countermeasure The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA - wants an interceptor that can stop hypersonic weapons travelling at Mach 5 to Mach 20 plus.  DARPA is accepting proposals for the program which it calls Glide Breaker, an interceptor that can counter and take out enemy hypersonic weapons. Russia's Avangard The program is specifically targeting what are called boost-glide weapons, that are catapulted high into the atmosphere on ballistic missiles and then glide at hypersonic speeds to earth.  An example is Russia's Avangard which President Putin has termed unstoppable.  It glides down to its target on Earth at Mach 20.  The US and China are also developing these hypersonic weapons. 2020 Testing DARPA wants the Glide Breaker technology in a hurry.  It wants it tested in 2020.  The challenges to create the hypersonic countermeasure a

Cooling Hypersonic Vehicles Source:  DARPA Hypersonic Concept Vehicle DARPA's MACH Program The big challenge with hypersonic jets is to keep them cool as they reach a speed of Mach 5 and above.  The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA - has declared 2019 the year of hypersonics.  DARPA is pursuing new materials and designs for cooling the hot, leading edges of hypersonic vehicles as they accelerate to hypersonic speeds. New Architecture, Materials and Design for Heat Management The new program is called MACH - Materials, Architecture and Characterization for Hypersonics (MACH) program.  DARPA wants totally new, breakthrough technology, not evolutionary improvements on existing technology. Decades of Trying Effective cool down of the hypersonic vehicles at Mach 5 and above is the key factor between success and disaster.  The DARPA MACH programs kicks off in late January 2019.  According to DARPA Program Manager Bill Carter, scientists

China's Starry Sky Hypersonic Wave Rider  Starry Sky China just successfully tested its hypersonic aircraft, the XingKong-2, Starry Sky.  It reportedly can travel 6-times the speed of sound at Mach 6.  Within a few days, the US Air Force ordered more hypersonic weapons from Lockheed Martin -  the 2nd order this year.  The global hypersonic arms race is intensely heating up. Hypersonic Competitors Russia, China and the US are trying to dominate in hypersonic delivery systems and weapons that travel 5 and 6 times the speed of sound.  Some military experts believe the Starry Sky can evade existing missile defense systems and potentially carry both conventional and nuclear payloads.  They don't expect it to be weaponized for 3 to 5 years. USAF Secretary Heather Walker wants to get hypersonic capability to our military as soon as possible. Starry Sky Hypersonic Tech Starry Sky is an experimental hypersonic wave rider that accelerates to Mach 6.  It rides the shock waves