Hasta La Gadget!

A group of British researchers at a company called Reaction Engines has announced new aircraft technology that could make air travel much faster. The researchers have created what they describe as “the biggest breakthrough in propulsion since the jet engine.” The Sabre engine use a fancy compressed helium cooling system able to cool air entering the engine from 1000°C to -150°C in 1/100 of a second.

The technology is able to cool the incoming air at incredible speed and without creating any ice that could cause problems. The new cooling system could allow jet engines to run at much higher levels of power than is currently possible without overheating. The researchers believe that aircraft using these engines could reach speeds of over 2000 mph, propelling an aircraft from London to Sydney in about 4.5 hours.

The company also believes that these engines might allow aircraft to go from atmospheric flight to space flight in a single stage. The aircraft engines may also be able to gather enough oxygen from air at low altitudes to create their own fuel before switching to internal fuel sources for higher speed travel.

[via Telegraph]

If you were planning on an airship ride any time in the near future, you’ll be better off not attempting to take a ride with the group Airship Ventures, as they’ve turned up cold on the sponsorship tip. It would appear that due specifically to the lack of sponsorship the company has received as of late, they’ll have to make it land for the foreseeable future. And what’s “it” you might ask? Why, the Zeppelin Eureka, of course!

This massive airship Zeppelin Eureka has been flying with “history-making successes” as well as a rather good history of safety – so says AirShip Ventures. Despite these perfectly legitimate notions, operations will be ceased immediately. We know you had your hopes up, up and away, but it’s just not going to be possible – no balloon rides on the great Zeppelin Eureka for you.

“Operating this unique aircraft has been an inspiring experience and it is with a very heavy heart that we’ve come to this point requiring us to cease operations and ground Eureka. Our team is the best at what they do and their dedication to Eureka, our passengers and our dream of flying a Zeppelin in the USA has been remarkable. I’m beyond sad to disband their talents and leave Moffett Field, our friends and fans without an active airship.” – Airship Ventures CEO Brian Hall

This operation started all the way back in 2007 and began passenger flights in 2008 down in the California Bay Area – Silicon Valley, Oakland, and San Francisco. They brought with them the latest in “high-technology” right along with the “golden age of aviation” in zeppelins for all. They made the Zeppelin NT (New Technology) to the USA for the first time and aimed for flightlyseeing, media, science missions, and advertising operations.

Click above image for full-sized view

This group accomplished several things before they had to take their big balloon out of the sky, including the following list. You’ll find that they trained the first female Zeppelin pilot in history and made it through four years of passenger operations before they had to pull the plug – and that’s not even the best of it!

• Created the first large scale passenger airship operation in the US since the 1930s.

• Welcomed the 20,000th passenger during a flightseeing tour over San Francisco in 2012.

• Celebrated four years of passenger operations in 2012.

• Completed a history-making, six-month coast to coast cross country tour in 2011.

• Covered 459.3 miles and broke the standing Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) airship distance record in 2010.

• Provided aerial coverage for the Rose Bowl Game, ESPN’s College Game Day, the Farmer’s Insurance Open, Zurich Classic, US Open of Surfing, Dew Tour, and Red Bull Flugtag

• Partnered with NASA and SETI on meteorite seeking missions over Sacramento and Sonoma, California, and with SETI on the study of extremophiles in the bay area salt ponds.

• Acted as a training vessel for the U.S. Air Force’s test pilots.

• Hired and trained both the first female Zeppelin pilot and first American female Zeppelin pilot

• Certified and demonstrated the use of Raymarine Radar and FLIR Systems infrared systems for use in the roles of Maritime Patrol and Search and Rescue with the airship.

• Did the first skydive over downtown Los Angeles from an airship in support of a major media event, and the first wingsuit jump from an airship over downtown San Francisco during a major technology conference

• Launched a social media campaign displaying the world’s largest Twitter hashtag as a decal on the airship.

Anyone that’d up until this week been planning on hitting up the airship and had already purchased tickets will be able to receive full refunds from the company post-haste. To do so, head over to the AirShip Ventures website and check out their contact form. Good luck, and let’s hope this isn’t the first sign of the zeppelin apocalypse!

World’s Largest Passenger Airship grounded is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s perhaps every tech-lover’s nightmare, but it’s something everyone should be aware of: electronics-killing missiles. On October 16th, Boeing tested one such weapon named CHAMP, a non-lethal high-powered microwave missile that successfully snuffed the life out of a bunch of PCs, making history in the process. In fact, the test was so successful, the missile killed the cameras set up to record the event as well.

The test was carried out by the Boeing Phantom Works team and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate team members, as well as members from the high-powered microwave supplier Raytheon Ktech. The target was a two-story building filled with desktop computers and electronics. The missile fired a burst of microwave awesomeness at the building, at which point every electronic thing inside died. Throughout the test, seven targets were hit using the missile.

Said Keith Coleman, the CHAMP program manager for Boeing Phantom Works, “This technology marks a new era in modern-day warfare. In the near future, this technology may be used to render an enemy’s electronic and data systems useless even before the first troops or aircraft arrive.” He followed this up by stating, “Today we turned science fiction into science fact.” The success of the test is, according to the Boeing statement, a big step in non-lethal warfare.

According to James Dodd, VP of Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft, there is a need for this type of weapon. “We know this has some capabilities and some impact, we’re really trying to engage the customer to see if there is a way we can actually get this fielded and implemented sooner than later.” For now, Boeing is taking a look at the data and telemetry from the completed mission.

[via Boeing]

Boeing tests electronics-killing CHAMP microwave missile is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Last Friday I asked people if they would rather be a US Navy or a US Air Force pilot. The US Navy itself replied with this video of an F-18 night landing on an aircraft carrier. Hard to argue with that. It’s terrifying. More »

We’ve all been on a plane and heard the same spiel over and over again. Please turn off any and all electronic devices, MP3 players, iPods, laptops, and set all iPhone, iPad, and devices to airplane mode — get ready for takeoff. Today however the folks from Boeing have shared their plans to allow cell phone use on their top-tier Dreamliner airplanes as soon as 2013.

Passengers aboard Boeing’s 747-8, massive 787 Dreamliner, and 777′s will soon be able to use their cell phones according to the company and CNET. Back in July when Boeing unveiled their new 787 Dreamliner they were showing off their Android-based entertainment systems on board — but apparently that wasn’t the only Android and smartphone usage they had in mind.

Here in the US however, the FAA has a ban in place that probably will never allow for such activity. So the uses for this new technology and improvements isn’t really known at this point. Whether other countries and officials will allow the use of cell phones is an entirely different situation. Yes we have on-flight WiFi, but making calls is another level.

Along with cell phone use, WiFi as usual, and more, Boeing also states they’ll have actual live TV, and even wireless media streaming by sometime in 2014. If you need to have a video conference while sky high — Boeing will have you covered. Many still think smartphone usage on planes is no big deal and of no security concern, just ask Alec Baldwin.

[via AndroidCommunity]

Boeing Airplanes set to allow cell phone use in 2013 is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.