Hasta La Gadget!

There’s something magical about airships. Recently, they were showcased in the TV show Fringe when the action took place in an alternate universe. Personally, I’ve never flown in one, but I’d sure like to fly in this unusual airship, which combines an airplane with a dirigible.

The Ecologic Aircraft was conceptualized by Daphnis Fournier, whose goal was to create a fully electric passenger plane. The plane would use an inflatable structure above the main cabin, which has photovoltaic panels on its upper side to collect energy from the sun, providing power for its cabin.

The balloon is supposed to remain flat most of the time, until it reaches its cruising altitude, at which point it inflates and keeps the plane aloft. Fournier doesn’t specify how the plane would take off and land, but from the images, one can assume that it would have electric turbine engines of some sort.

I wonder how much jet fuel could be saved by using a design like this. Will people enjoy taking airliners that are more eco-friendly, but take longer to get to their destination? Only time will tell.

[via Yanko Design]

I’ve seen my fair share of geeky Christmas ornaments in recent years, from Star Wars Boba Flakes to Mars Attacks! Christmas ornaments. It’s fun because you get to dress up your tree in ornaments that show off your true, geeky nature. For example, if you’re into sci-fi, then the aformentioned ornaments will obviously tickle your fancy.

If you’re a huge airplane buff, then you’ll probably find these aviation Christmas ornaments off the wall.

They don’t look like airplanes though, instead, they look like traditional tree ornaments. Upon closer inspection, you’ll see that each ornament features a specific event or special celebration in aviation history, like the 25th Anniversary in Space and the Berlin Airlift. One even shows off the history of the Boeing Flight Test.

When I was a kid, I remember wanting to be a pilot back then. That was the time when I first heard of Amelia Earhart’s story, and her passion for flying just really got to me. I ended up being an engineer instead, but if opportunity presents itself in the future, I’d definitely jump at the chance to earn my wings. Here’s to hoping.

Each of these Christmas ornaments are available online for $4.71(USD). If ornaments aren’t your thing but airplanes are, then you can find a whole bunch of other aviation-themed stuff on Skygeek.

Airbus has been crafting its plane of the future for some time now, and while earlier visualizations focus on see-through aircraft with shapeshifting seats, the aviation company’s latest ideas have the environment — and passengers’ precious time — in mind. Airbus just unveiled its “Smarter Skies” conceptualization of what air travel will look like in 2050, and all signs point to shorter flights and less energy consumption. For one, the aircraft manufacturer imagines an assisted takeoff, dubbed “eco-climb” mode, where smaller, lighter airplanes would depart from shorter runways and reach cruising altitude faster. Once in the air, planes could pinpoint the most direct route and travel en masse — a la a flock of birds — along “express skyways” to reduce emissions and arrive at their destinations sooner. (That idea’s totally gonna fly, right?) And when it comes time to land, aircraft could descend into airports with engines running in idle, allowing for reduced noise and emissions. Take a look at all five concepts in action in the video below the break.

Continue reading Airbus imagines ‘smarter skies’ by 2050: reduced emissions and shorter flight times

Filed under: Transportation

Airbus imagines ‘smarter skies’ by 2050: reduced emissions and shorter flight times originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 05:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Soviet Russia, you carry the Helicarrier. But that’s all right, because just like the S.H.I.E.L.D.’s flying fortress, this small remote-controlled replica made by a Russian RC enthusiast can also float and take to the sky.

The replica was made by RC Design forum member native18, the same guy who made the DeLorean quadrotor. Strangely enough, native18 also pointed out a very similar toy that was shown off at an RC airplane show way last February, except this one is literally an (RC) aircraft carrier:

Here’s native18′s Helicarrier in action:

Brush up on your Russian (or use Google Translate) and head to native18′s thread on RC Design for more details and images. Combine this with this and you have a winner.

[via Buzzfeed]

If you’re a member of that mildly crazy tribe who want to build and actually fly their own airplane, MakerPlane has a new way of enabling your obsession. The open source aviation organization will allow you to download its plans and schematics for free, then build your plane’s parts using CNC (computer numerically controlled) mills and 3D printers. If you don’t have one of those lying around, you’ll be able to go to a “makerspace” replete with all the necessary tools to get your wings whipped up, instead. As for keeping the blue side up, open source avionics software will also be included, allowing bold dabblers to create digital flight instruments and displays. For now, the group is working on its first set of plans, led by an aeronautical engineer volunteer, and hopes to have that design (shown above) flying in time for the Oshkosh airshow in 2014. While you’re waiting, start looking for trusting souls brave enough to fly in a small plane you built yourself.

Filed under: Transportation

MakerPlane lets you build an experimental aircraft with digital printers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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