Important Innovations

  Flight-Ready Speeder VTOL Source:  Mayman Aerospace Brand New Way to Travel  California-based Mayman Aerospace, a JetPack company, has debuted its Speeder Air Utility Vehicle (AUV) prototype that is ready to fly.  Called the Speeder P2, the vehicle is a brand-new class of aircraft. It is a VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft that offers both autonomous and remotely piloted flights. It is significantly less expensive and much smaller than a helicopter and faster and more powerful than eVTOLs and drones. Currently its 8 jet engines are powered on regular, zero net carbon or sustainable aviation fuel.  Mayman is also exploring hydrogen turbine engines and electric fanjets as a power source. For manufacturing production, the company says the P2 lends itself to quickly deployed economies of scale. P2 is an aviation gamechanger with widespread applications and configurations, including for industrial cargo transportation and as personal flying craft for the military, law enforceme

France's Flying Inventor Franky Zapata Source:  Zapata flying into Dover, England French Inventor Goes 106 MPH French inventor Franky Zapata successfully crossed the English Channel today on  a jet powered hoverboard that he invented.  It's a 22 mile trip that took him 22 minutes from Sangatte, France to Dover, England.  At times he reached speeds of 106 mph. Second Try Was the Charm For Zapata, the second attempt brought success.  In late July, he made his first attempt but fell into the water when trying to land on a refueling platform in the middle of the Channel.  He missed it by inches. During today's successful flight, he stopped once to refuel because he started the journey with just 10 minutes worth of fuel.  When he landed in Dover, he commented:  "We made the machine 3 years ago and now we've crossed the Channel.  It's crazy!" Zapata Industries Zapata the inventor has created Zapata Industries.  He invented the Flyboard

Your Personal Air Mobility Vehicle with No Emissions Source:  Alaka'i Technologies  Skai - Engineering and Avionics from Massachusetts & Design Input from BMW The inventors call this the fuel cell powered aircraft of the people to get above traffic jams.  The drone-like aircraft is hydrogen fuel cell powered and has zero emissions.  This model, pictured above, was just unveiled in southern California.  It's a collaboration between US based Alaka'i Technologies and BMW's design group in southern California.  It is sleek, powered by 6 rotors, a hover craft,  needs a lot of testing, but the inventors say it's practical and affordable.  For more, go to Important Innovations Collection: 1st Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft : People Mover - Air Mobility for the People Sleek Looking and Ready for Testing The world's first hydrogen fuel cell powered flyi...

Jet Engine Powered Flying Suit Source:  Gravity Industries Jet Suit Defying Gravity and Flying On Your On Suit This innovation -The Gravity Flying Suit - has been cited as one of the greatest inventions of 2018. It's a system invented by London based innovator Richard Browning that enables personal flight by 5, mini jet engines placed around the flyer's body.   One is in a backpack and four others are on the hands.  There is speed and a lot of potential including going electric.  For a great news blog on this go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane's blog at  Important Innovations Collection: The Flying Suit - Gravity Jet Suit : Suit with 5 Mini Jet Engines for Flying Source:  Gravity Industries' Jet Suit Dressing for Altitude The Gravity Jet Suit has bee...

Populist Personal Flight Latvian Style It's called ERA Aviabike. Team AEROXO LV of Latvia approached Boeing's GoFly international competition with practicality.  They wanted to create a personal flying machine with sizzle and appeal that would sell to global bikers. The global motorbike market is huge.  Their concept design and technical specifications have won them a top ten spot in the contest.  Like the 9 other competitors, they're now building their concept into a real, flying prototype to win the $2 million prize in March.  After that, the journey to global sales. Combo Bike, Helicopter & Plane The team describes it as a "tilt rotor aerial vehicle".  It takes off like a helicopter then tilts its motors so it flies like a fixed wing plane.  It looks like a science fiction motorcycle that's ready to fly. Green, Affordable and Autonomous if You Like ERA Aviabike is all-electric right now.  But other power sources going forward are options.  Als

Dutch S1 -  Boeing GoFly Winning Concept Dutch team SILVERWING designed this personal flying machine that's an international winner.  It's another top ten contender in Boeing's GoFy International Competition. They've created a flying motorcycle made airborne by 2 large rotors.  The rotors are driven by 2 electric motors. Increased Comfort Level Team SILVERWING designed S1 from the rider's comfort level perspective and to clear the rigorous competitive standards set by Boeing GoFly.  The standards include safety, vehicle size, vertical takeoff and landing, noise level, payload and line of sight.  SILVERWING says the biggest challenge was to keep the noise level minimal while being able to carry a person. S1 Specs S1 takes off vertically.  The thrust for liftoff is provided by the 2 rotors, powered by electric motors.  It then transitions to horizontal flight like a plane.  To win GoFly, it has to fly non-stop for at least 20 miles with no battery rechargin

Japan's Tetra 3 for Personal Flying This Boeing GoFly, Top Ten winner is so cool it looks like its ready for Star Wars adventures.  It's called Tetra 3 and is the concept design created by Team Tetra of Japan.  It clearly looks like a flying motorbike.  The operator rides it like a motorcycle. And according to Team Tetra Captain Tasuka Nakai, the operator can work it and fly it like a video game. Fun and Easy to Fly The Japanese team says the Tetra 3 is easy for anyone to fly.  An electric motor powers the propellers.  The device can hover, take off and land vertically and fly horizontally, much like a plane with fixed wings.  To win the competition, it also has to fly non-stop at least 20 miles, safely, with minimal noise and comply with the international competition's size standards. Takeoff Time The rubber is hitting the road.  The futuristic, Star Wars-like Tetra 3 is now being built into a working prototype to fly for the gold.  $2 million in prize money to b

Up, Up and Away With the intense global R&D underway to bring the first flying car to market, I wondered what the status of jet packs is.  They were all the rage earlier in this decade  Turns out, they're still around but haven't matured technologically for widespread commercialization...yet.  They are one of the most difficult and complex pieces of flying equipment to engineer.  They also remain dangerous to fly. New Takeoffs with Jet Pack Man Nick Macomber is known as the Jet Pack Man.  He and his jet pack opened the London Olympics, flew over bridges in Ireland and have flown as part of innovation conferences in China.  His company Go Fast Sports & Jet Pack International predicts an upcoming renaissance in jet packing.  They've created a prototype with a turbine based platform that's capable of flying 30 minutes.  That could open up the possibility of commuting to work or school by jetpack. Weight to Thrust Ratio Challenge With jet packs, the challen