Posts Tagged ‘airplane’
Sep16
Virgin Galactic ship completes test flight
2016 at 04:19 pm by admin | Comments Off
Two years after a fatal accident put Virgin’s test rocket plane project on hiatus, the new Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity has completed its very first flight test! The plane, which is made of an all-carbon composite material that can withstand the extreme stress of leaving the atmosphere, is designed as the world’s first commercial aircraft that can take its passengers to space. The plane is designed both for human use as well as transporting small service satellites into the outer atmosphere. The 4-hour test flight went off without a hitch, and shows a promising future for commercial space travel.
Jun06
Airbus’ innovative new 3D-printed plane
2016 at 08:38 pm by admin | Comments Off
Airbus, leading aircraft manufacturer, has revealed their newest innovation: a 3D-printed airplane! The plane, called Thor, was unveiled at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin, Germany, and shows off what innovations Airbus has come up with to introduce 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. The plane, which measures 13 feet long and weighing in at only 46 pounds, was designed as an affordable, easy-to-construct drone, as well as a testbed for future 3D-printing technologies that may be implemented into full-scale planes in the future. The Thor is composed of polyamide, and outside of the necessary electrical elements that allow it to fly, all of the Thor’s pieces are made from this material, such as the rotors, landing gear, and hull pieces. With the promise of alleviating air pollution and construction costs, Airbus is looking forward to the future of 3D printing in the airplane industry.
Jan20
Solar-powered aircraft plans to fly around world
2015 at 01:04 pm by admin | Comments Off
The world’s most energy-efficient aircraft is hoping to make history by completing the first ever flight around the world without using a single drop of fuel! The Solar Impulse 2 is an aircraft that runs off of the light of the sun, and is the product of years of research and innovations in clean fuel and solar panels. The upcoming event, which is slated to begin at the end of February, will send the single-seat Solar Impulse 2 on a global expedition, traveling nearly 21,800 miles over the span of 5 months. The plane will stay in the air for a duration of 25 days, and will land at 12 different locations for maintenance. The co-founders of the Solar Impulse 2, Betrand Piccard and André Borschberg, hope that the flight will not only break records, but will also raise awareness and support for clean technology. As for the flight itself, the Solar Impulse 2 will launch from Abu Dhabi and land in several countries around the world, including three stops in the United States!
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