Important Innovations

  New Plane With World's Largest Engines                                                       Source:  Boeing FAA Clearance For GE Engines The Boeing 777X is the world's largest twin engine passenger plane. General Electric GE 9X engines for the 777X just received FAA certification. It is the largest engine ever put on a plane. Its diameter is wider than a 737 fuselage. The engine is huge but very efficient. It cuts emissions by 30% and operational costs by 10%. This clears a big hurdle to bring the jet to market. After thousands of hours of test flight hours, the GE 9x has been given FAA part 33 certification. Big Boost for GE This is a big boost for GE.  GE has orders and commitments for 600 plus GE 9X engines.  It has delivered 8 GE 9X test engines and 2 test spares for Boeing's four 777X test planes. Long Journey In 2019, GE found wear in a part of the engine, which it fixed.  This will be new business for GE and Boeing, which expects to put the 777X into service

All-Electric Cesna Grand Caravan Takes Flight Source:  MagniX Retrofitted, Electric Cessna Commuter Plane A Cessna commuter plane, retrofitted to be all electric powered, has been successfully test flown in Washington state.  It is the biggest electric plane now flying.  It's the invention of electric motor maker MagniX of Redmond, Washington and flight testing contractor AeroTEC.  They converted a 9 passenger, single engine Cessna 208B Grand Caravan into an electric plane that flies on battery power. "Electric Flight Is Here" In its test flight, the Cessna Grand Caravan flew for 30 minutes and made a picture perfect landing.  AeroTEC CEO Lee Human says the demonstration proves "electric flight is here today." The two companies hope to have FAA approval of their all electric aircraft by late 2021 in order to begin commercial operations. Proof of e-Flying The flight of this electric plane establishes several aviation milestones.  It is proof that gre

Biggest Global Sound Map of Sounds from Nature A World Without Noise Pollution, Just the Sound of Nature It's called the Global Collaborative Sound Project.  It's the creation of innovator and composer Stuart Fowkes.  Fowkes has been creating sound maps since 2014 including those of sacred places and protests. Sounding Nature His latest sound map is Sounding Nature. It is the biggest global collection of sounds from nature.  It features 500 nature sounds from 55 countries.  It allows you to hear what the world sounds like without humans and without noise pollution.  Fowkes says he's remixing sounds from the natural world with artistic reactions including music the natural sounds have inspired.  For more stories on innovations, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane