Important Innovations

  X-57 Is Ready to Fly                                                  Source:  NASA NASA's Chases Zero Emissions Aviation NASA is placing a big bet on the future of flying that will be electric. Specifically, planes powered by battery powered electric engines that emit zero carbon emissions and provide greener and much quieter flights.  NASA's first electric plane, the X-57 Maxwell, is very close to flying.  NASA says it will begin test flights very soon. The vehicle has an electric propulsion system that makes flying cleaner, quieter and more sustainable.  The X-57 is a key component of NASA's X-planes series, which also includes a super-quiet, supersonic electric passenger jet, the X-59 QueSST, which is next in line for test flights after X-57 Maxwell. These two planes are targeted for commercial passenger service.  Tech Specs The X-57 is an Italian Tecnam P2006T that was converted to an electric plane by replacing its petroleum-based fuel Rotax engines with electric mo

X -57 Maxwell Is Set For Test Flights                                                  Source:  NASA NASA's Chases Zero Emissions Aviation NASA is placing a big bet on the future of flying that will be electric. Specifically, planes powered by battery powered electric engines that emit zero carbon emissions and provide greener and much quieter flights.  NASA's first electric plane, the X-57 Maxwell, is very close to flying.  NASA says it will begin test flights very soon. The vehicle has an electric propulsion system that makes flying cleaner, quieter and more sustainable.  The X-57 is a key component of NASA's X-planes series, which also includes a super-quiet, supersonic electric passenger jet, the X-59 QueSST, which is next in line for test flights after X-57 Maxwell. These two planes are targeted for commercial passenger service.  Tech Specs The X-57 is an Italian Tecnam P2006T that was converted to an electric plane by replacing its petroleum-based fuel Rotax engines w

  Honeywell Leads Effort to Bring Air Taxis to Cities in Europe                                                  Source: UMiles Next Urban Air Mobility Moves Forward Spain-based UMiles Next, which specializes in unmanned aircraft systems, has just completed a series of test flights on its autonomous, Integrity eVTOL air taxi concept.  eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), can take off and land like a helicopter and don't usually require a runway, which makes them very convenient. The test flights on Integrity included the air taxi's autonomous systems for take-off, landings and collision-avoidance.  Importantly, the flight tests included Integrity flying with a number of other unmanned aircraft.  The tests were successful.  The purpose was to demonstrate that autonomous aircraft are safe, reliable and can be seamlessly integrated into urban air spaces in the very near future. Flight Test Consortium At this time, Integrity can carry two people, reach speeds up

  Honeywell Leads Effort to Bring Air Taxis to Cities in Europe                                                  Source: UMiles Next Urban Air Mobility Moves Forward Spain-based UMiles Next, which specializes in unmanned aircraft systems, has just completed a series of test flights on its autonomous, Integrity eVTOL air taxi concept.  eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), can take off and land like a helicopter and don't usually require a runway, which makes them very convenient. The test flights on Integrity included the air taxi's autonomous systems for take-off, landings and collision-avoidance.  Importantly, the flight tests included Integrity flying with a number of other unmanned aircraft.  The tests were successful.  The purpose was to demonstrate that autonomous aircraft are safe, reliable and can be seamlessly integrated into urban air spaces in the very near future. Flight Test Consortium At this time, Integrity can carry two people, reach speeds up

  Windy City Air Taxi Testing Underway                                                       Source: Eve Chicago Accelerates the Dawn of Cities With Flying Taxis In what appears to be a world first, Embraer's Eve eVTOLs have been participating in real-world simulated test flights in Chicago, using helicopters as substitutes for the eVTOL flying taxis.  The test program is called the Chicago XP program and it has been taking place throughout September 2022.  So far, it is quite a success.  The helicopters, which take off and land vertically like an eVTOL which are not authorized yet to fly, have been operating out of three Chicago area heliports.  Passengers are able to use tablets with special software to see how the eVTOLs and vertiports in real, operational mode would look and work. Why the Simulations? Eve air taxis will be ready to go into fully operational service by 2026, pending regulatory clearance by the FAA and other aviation authorities.  The Chicago simulations are prov

  Test Flights for the X-57 Maxwell Start in June                                                                                     Source:  NASA NASA's Chases Zero Emissions Aviation A big part of the future of flying will be electric planes with zero emissions green flights, no inflight carbon emissions and much quieter aircraft.  This is a future that NASA is betting on.  NASA's electric, experimental X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell electric plane, will begin test flights in June. The vehicle has an electric propulsion system that makes flying cleaner, quieter and more sustainable.  The X-57 is a key component of NASA's X-planes series, which also includes a super-quiet, supersonic electric passenger jet, the X-59 QueSST, which is next in line for test flights after X-57 in NASA's fascinating X series of experimental aircraft for use on Earth not in space, yet. Tech Specs The X-57 is an Italian Tecnam P2006T that was converted to an electric plane by replacing its petrol

  Alauda Aeronautics Airspeeder Mk3                                                  Source:  Alauda First Unmanned Flights for Flying Race Car Alauda Aeronautics' Airspeeder Mk3 - a flying race car - has just successfully completed its first, unmanned test flights over the South Australia desert.  The flying car is a spectacular piece of technology, inspired by Formula One race cars dating back to the 1950's and 1060's.  It's an all electric, 13 feet long, octocopter e-VTOL, that vertically takes off and lands like a helicopter.  Alauda is building at least ten Airspeeders, which will participate in the world's first flying race car races later this year. Cutting Edge Flying Car Technologies Airspeeder is powered by a lithium polymer battery that delivers fifteen minutes of flying time.  The flying car weighs 287 pounds.  It delivers incredible speed - up to 155 mph - and has tremendous power and agility. It accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. For collisio

  Stunning, Electric Jet Going into Test Flights                                             Source:  Eviation's Alice Alice Invented & Developed by Israel's Eviation Alice is the world's first all-electric regional commuter aircraft, designed to make flying sustainable, affordable and quiet. Israel based Eviation, with US offices in Washington, is preparing to start a series of test flights on this very innovative, electric, luxury jet.  The e-plane can carry 9 passengers and a 2 person crew.  It has a range of 506 miles on a single charge on its huge 820 kWh battery pack.  Alice runs on three electric engines that power three variable pitch electric props in a push formation.  The electric engines and props are on the two wing tips and also on the tail of the plane, which is in a V formation.  The configuration is designed to accelerate air around the body of the plane to provide it extra lift. A Plane Named Alice Alice is no ordinary piece of new aviation technology.

  Stunning, Electric Jet From Eviation                                              Source:  Eviation's Alice Alice Invented & Developed by Israel's Eviation Alice is the world's first all-electric regional commuter aircraft, designed to make flying sustainable, affordable and quiet. Israel based Eviation, with US offices in Washington, is preparing to start a series of test flights on this very innovative, electric, luxury jet.  The e-plane can carry 9 passengers and a 2 person crew.  It has a range of 506 miles on a single charge on its huge 820 kWh battery pack.  Alice runs on three electric engines that power three variable pitch electric props in a push formation.  The electric engines and props are on the two wing tips and also on the tail of the plane, which is in a V formation.  The configuration is designed to accelerate air around the body of the plane to provide it extra lift. A Plane Named Alice Alice is no ordinary piece of new aviation technology.  It can