Aircraft
From autonomous flying-taxis to experimental hypersonic craft, check out what's new in the world of aviation.
LATEST NEWS
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JetZero's ultra-efficient blended wing demonstrator cleared for takeoff
March 27, 2024The basic shape of a passenger jet hasn’t really changed much for decades, but radical new shapes are inching closer to production. JetZero has announced that its beautiful blended-wing demonstrator has been FAA-approved to begin test flights. -
Video: Next-gen supersonic aircraft takes flight
March 24, 2024The first private supersonic aircraft since Concorde retired two decades ago has successfully taken to the skies. On March 22, Boom's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator completed its maiden flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California. -
Unpowered cargo gliders on tow ropes promise 65% cheaper air freight
March 18, 2024A West Texas company says it's found a remarkably simple way to slash air cargo costs as much as 65% – by having planes tow autonomous, cargo-carrying gliders behind them, big enough to double, or potentially triple their payload capacity. -
World's largest aircraft delivers colossal cargo to makeshift airstrips
March 17, 2024The 108-m (356-ft) long Radia Windrunner is designed to transport cargo too big for the road, to short, semi-prepared airstrips on rough terrain. It would dwarf the majestic 84-m (275-ft) long Antonov An-225 Mriya, which is sadly no longer with us. -
Video: Talon-A1 test vehicle makes near-hypersonic first powered flight
March 11, 2024Stratolaunch Systems, the company behind the world's largest aircraft, is making headlines again. The firm's Talon-A1 hypersonic test aircraft has successfully completed its first powered flight, which took place last weekend in Mojave, California. -
Video: Wave Engine's UAV test flight brings pulsejet into 21st century
March 08, 2024Wave Engine Corp has aced a demonstration flight of a simple jet engine with no moving parts. A modern version of a pulsejet, the J-1 engine powered a UAV through take-off and several mid-air stop/starts before the aircraft nailed the landing. -
Video: Megawatt-scale liquid H2 airliner powertrain comes to life
March 03, 2024Universal Hydrogen is already flying the world's largest hydrogen airliner – and now the company has started testing swappable liquid hydrogen fuel modules that'll radically boost the range of clean passenger aircraft operations slated for 2026. -
Video: Doroni's new fan-in-wing, cruise-capable, buy 'n' fly eVTOL
March 01, 2024After making its first manned eVTOL flight last June, Florida's Doroni Aerospace has announced its next model. The H1X rocks coaxial ducted fans and pusher props, and targets 120 mph (200 km/h) cruise speeds for up to 40 minutes. -
Sikorsky's new tilt-wing hybrid VTOL aircraft promises 575-mile range
February 28, 2024Sikorsky is developing a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (HEX/VTOL) tilt-wing demonstrator. It's part of a new family of aircraft that'll run the company's new MATRIX autonomy suite, so it'll fly with or without a pilot. -
Video: Airfish-8 wing-in-ground effect aircraft slated for service in 2025
February 28, 2024Hovering uncannily close to the waves, the Airfish-8 carves its way over water three times quicker than a boat, and 2.3 times more efficiently than an aircraft. Singapore's ST Engineering has announced its first orders, set to enter service in 2025. -
Super-simple helicopter looks easier than flying a drone
February 21, 2024How hard could it be to fly a helicopter if the controls consisted of just one stick and two touchscreens? That's exactly what the case is with the recently announced Skyryse One, which could be yours for just shy of $2 million. -
FlyNow eCopter takes a smaller, simpler approach to "air taxi" travel
February 09, 2024There are now a number of companies working on eVTOL "air taxis," most of which look a bit like larger versions of consumer quadcopter drones. The eCopter is different, however, in a way that could make it more likely to see real-world use. -
LuftCar signs deal to develop detachable flying vans in the Philippines
February 09, 2024Florida's LuftCar has designed a real burger with the lot: a hydrogen-powered jeepney van that backs into a special detachable airframe to turn into a high-speed, long-range, cruise-capable vectored-thrust eVTOL, perfect for island hopping. -
Lignin breakthrough unlocks cost-competitive, carbon-neutral jet fuel
February 07, 2024A simple, cheap pretreatment promises to radically cut the price of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from waste wood biomass – potentially making it cost-competitive with fossil-based jet fuel, while cutting down emissions by up to 80%. -
eHang's eVTOL air taxi will cost buyers less than $350,000 (in China)
February 02, 2024While some other urban air mobility startups are still just producing renderings, eHang's EH 216 eVTOL has already been leared for commercial air taxi work in China. The company has now gone a step further, by announcing the retail price.
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