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

  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 8-minute test flight, Alice reached an altitude of 3500 feet and hit speeds of 171 mph. The electric aircraft is powered and propelled by 2, electric motors that sp

  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 8-minute test flight, Alice reached an altitude of 3500 feet and hit speeds of 171 mph. The electric aircraft is powered and propelled by 2, electric motors that sp

  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 planes.  These aircraft operate with zero emissions and very little noise. Race For Electric Planes A number of eVTOL companies like Florida's Eve Air

  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 and connect" capabilities for both commercial and military customers.  It will be able to provide connectivity to unconnected parts of the world.  It could revolutionize disaster ma

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 Performance Achievements Joby's S4 is a 6 rotor eVTOL or all-electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle.  It set an eVTOL global speed record this year when it flew

  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 technology is truly revolutionary and potentially transformative.  Rather than jet engines, propellers or rotors, Professor Barrett and his MIT team have developed an aircraft that has

  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 seat eVTOLs (electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicles). Hydrogen Powered Flights into the Future The HY4 is H2Fly's seventh generation aircraft

  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 that can carry 279 passengers, nonstop from London to San Francisco or elsewhere for up to 6,037 miles. The new plane has a 177-foot wingspan with two turbofan engines powered by hydrogen.

  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 vertiport is expected to cost $25 million with two landing pads and the capacity to charge 8 vehicles simultaneously.  Many more vertiports in Florida are planned from Miami to Palm Beach and beyond.  It's the beginning of a revolutionary new way to travel within cities and ci

  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 Testing For Spirit of Innovation UK based Rolls-Royce is very pleased with the electric plane's performance and is putting it through very intensive f

  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 Testing For Spirit of Innovation UK based Rolls-Royce is very pleased with the electric plane's performance and is putting it through very intensive f