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....

  Alice is Successfully Test Flown                                             Source: Eviation Green, Zero Carbon Emissions Flying Alice, an all-electric 9-passenger, commuter plane, has successfully completed its first test flight.  The zero-carbon emissions aircraft, being developed by Washington state based Eviation, is targeted to service commuter and cargo routes between 150 and 250 miles. The e-plane has a flying range of 288 miles on a charge.  Alice is not just an electric plane prototype.  There are already significant sales orders for it, including from regional air carrier Cape Air, which operates out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and national package carrier DHL. Alice is on track to become the 1st, all new, all electric commercial air carrier when it gets full FAA approval to fly passengers. Tech Specs During the ...

  Alice is Successfully Test Flown                                             Source: Eviation Green, Zero Carbon Emissions Flying Alice, an all-electric 9-passenger, commuter plane, has successfully completed its first test flight.  The zero-carbon emissions aircraft, being developed by Washington state based Eviation, is targeted to service commuter and cargo routes between 150 and 250 miles. The e-plane has a flying range of 288 miles on a charge.  Alice is not just an electric plane prototype.  There are already significant sales orders for it, including from regional air carrier Cape Air, which operates out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and national package carrier DHL. Alice is on track to become the 1st, all new, all electric commercial air carrier when it gets full FAA approval to fly passengers. Tech Specs During the ...

  Sweden's Heart Aerospace Takes Orders For its Electric Passenger Plane                                             Source:  Heart Aerospace Zero Emissions Flying  Swedish startup Heart Aerospace is developing the world's first, 30-seat electric passenger plane.  The prototype is being built to fly 124 miles on battery power alone.  With an accompanying reverse-hybrid engine consisting of 2 turbo generators powered by sustainable aviation fuel, the aircraft's range doubles to 248 miles. Called the ES-30, it's a hot electric plane prototype that's scheduled for delivery in 2028.  Heart is getting investment money from Air Canada and Sweden's largest aerospace company Saab AB.  Saab and Air Canada are investing $5 million each in Heart.  Air Canada also has placed an order for 30 of the ES-30 electric passenger plan...

  Zephyr S Flying Non-Stop For Nearly 3 Weeks                                                       Source:  Airbus Zero Emissions Flying Airbus' solar-powered, non-crewed airplane Zephyr S has been flying non-stop for about 20 days gliding on numerous routes from Arizona to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and Belize in Central America. The unique aircraft is designed to fly in the stratosphere for months at a time.  The pace is a leisurely 30 knots (estimated).  The solar plane is a drone and a pseudo-satellite. A primary purpose for the aircraft is to serve as a sensor platform for the US military but the potential uses go way beyond that. Big Capabilities According to France-based Airbus, Zephyr is a truly revolutionary piece of aviation technology.  They say it will bring new "see, sense a...

Joby Wins 1st FAA Flying Certificate                                             Source:  Joby Aviation One Certificate Done & Two More to Go California-based flying taxi startup Joby Aviation is one big step closer to takeoff.  It just received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA.  It is a major milestone for the company.  It means that Joby can begin operating its air taxi service.  But to legally fly passengers, it needs to secure two more certificates.  It must be awarded a Type Certificate from the FAA which declares that the company's eVTOL meets the Agency's design and safety standards.  It also needs to secure a Production Certificate when it is ready to start producing eVTOLS.  With those three certificates, Joby can start legally flying passengers in its air taxis.  Tech Specs and P...

  NASA & MIT Partner on New Plane with Solid State, Silent Propulsion System                                                       Source:  MIT Flying on Electrodes NASA is investing in the development of a revolutionary, new type of aircraft that flies on a propulsion system with no moving parts.  There are no turbine engines, no propellers, no rotors, no jet fuel.  The solid state, silent, zero emissions, drone aircraft is being developed by MIT aerospace engineering Professor Steven Barrett. The aircraft has been successfully flown as a small, demonstrator model.  Now, Professor Barrett's invention and his development of it are being funded by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program to provide it greater lift for takeoff. Breakthrough Aviation Technology This electro-aerodynamic aviation...

  Germany's H2Fly                                             Source:  H2Fly Future of Green, Zero Emissions Flying A major, zero emissions flying project is underway in Germany to open the global skies to hydrogen-powered planes.  Germany's H2Fly, which is a global leader in hydrogen propulsion systems, is performing a series of flight tests on its hydrogen plane with its advanced powertrain that pumps out 130 kW of power.  Testing of the twin boom Hy4 aircraft is taking place at an airport in Stuttgart, Germany and will continue through mid-2022.  H2Fly and its partner Duetsche Aircraft will then further refine the hydrogen powered flying system. H2Fly believes that their hydrogen propulsion system can be adapted for powering a range of aircraft, including large ones capable of carrying 100 passengers and also small, 4 to 8 sea...

  Fly Zero H2-Plane                                                  Source:  ATI FlyZero New Zero Emissions Way to Fly The United Kingdom's Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is world famous for aviation innovation. Along with funding from the UK government and aviation partners like Airbus and Rolls Royce, ATI has developed a zero-emissions plane concept designed to fly on liquid hydrogen.  Not only that.  It is designed to fly halfway around the world on liquid hydrogen without any refueling which amounts  to 6,037 miles.  This is the new Fly Zero concept plane and it is a look at the future of zero emissions flying.  It is part of a new world of flying with no pollution spewing into the atmosphere.  Early Look at the Tech The concept is a midsized aircraft powered totally by liquid hydrogen tha...

  NASA Is Partnering With Orlando, FL on eVTOLs                                                                                      Source:  Lillium Preparations Underway to Welcome Urban Air Mobility Vehicles NASA is partnering with the city of Orlando, Florida to welcome, develop facilities and infrastructure and establish a regulatory environment to accommodate flying taxis and flying cars.  The city of Orlando's first vertiport for vertical takeoffs and landings of eventual fleets of flying taxis will be built by Lillium, the German based leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing flying taxis (eVTOLS).  The first vertiport in the US is planned for the Lake Nona area of Orlando.  The vertip...

  The Spirit of Innovation Successfully Flies                                                   Source: Rolls-Royce Jet Zero Emissions Flying Rolls-Royce has successfully flight tested an all-electric plane that recently completed its 15 minute maiden voyage.  The aircraft is called "The Spirit of Innovation" and it is a key piece of technology in Rolls-Royce's journey to "jet zero" otherwise known as zero emissions flying.  Global jet travel is one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the primary cause of Climate Change.  The World Wildlife Federation claims that flying is the most polluting form of human activity.  It is becoming increasingly clear that electric aircraft are a critical weapon in global efforts to save the environment from the ravages of Climate Change. More Intensive Test...

  The Spirit of Innovation Successfully Flies                                                   Source: Rolls-Royce Jet Zero Emissions Flying Rolls-Royce has successfully flight tested an all-electric plane that recently completed its 15 minute maiden voyage.  The aircraft is called "The Spirit of Innovation" and it is a key piece of technology in Rolls-Royce's journey to "jet zero" otherwise known as zero emissions flying.  Global jet travel is one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the primary cause of Climate Change.  The World Wildlife Federation claims that flying is the most polluting form of human activity.  It is becoming increasingly clear that electric aircraft are a critical weapon in global efforts to save the environment from the ravages of Climate Change. More Intensive Test...