Articles tagged with "aviation"
Swiss pilot soars to 31,237 feet in a record solar-powered flight
Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan set a new altitude record for solar-powered electric planes by flying his SolarStratos aircraft to 31,237 feet (9,521 meters), surpassing a 15-year-old record of 30,298 feet. The flight, launched from Sion airport in southwest Switzerland, lasted five hours and nine minutes and involved using warm air thermals to climb higher. At cruising altitude, Domjan even crossed paths with a commercial airliner, symbolizing the potential for decarbonized aviation. The flight data will be submitted to the World Air Sports Federation for official verification. The SolarStratos plane is a carbon fiber, single-propeller aircraft with a wingspan of 81.4 feet (24.8 meters) covered by 237 square feet (22 square meters) of advanced solar panels. It can take off at 31 mph and cruise at about 50 mph. Domjan, an experienced eco-adventurer and lecturer, aims to eventually reach the
energysolar-poweraviationelectric-aircraftrenewable-energycarbon-fiber-materialsdecarbonizationIn a first, China’s Fujian carrier launches jet using catapult
China has reportedly achieved a significant milestone with its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, by successfully conducting catapult-assisted jet launches, as shown in footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV. This marks the first time China has demonstrated the use of an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on a carrier, a technology previously exclusive to U.S. Navy carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford. The footage, released during the 98th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army, included voice recordings from the control room confirming actual takeoffs and showed a J-15T fighter jet launching from the deck, indicating the Fujian is nearing full operational status. The Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, represents a major advancement over its predecessors, the Liaoning and Shandong, which use ski-jump ramps for aircraft launch. The EMALS system allows for heavier aircraft with larger payloads, including more weapons and fuel, to take off, enabling the carrier to deploy more advanced aircraft such as electronic
energyelectromagnetic-catapultaircraft-carriermilitary-technologyaviationChina-NavyEMALSThe Aviation Industry and the Stall in Aircraft Innovation - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights a concerning stall in aircraft innovation that threatens the aviation industry’s ability to meet decarbonisation targets. Despite the critical need for more efficient and zero-emission aircraft to reduce the sector’s high emissions, major manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing have largely focused on incremental improvements, such as re-engined versions of existing models, rather than breakthrough technologies. Innovative projects have faced delays or pauses, and no new aircraft models are expected from these OEMs in the next decade. This slowdown is attributed to a lack of market competition and insufficient policy incentives pushing manufacturers toward radical innovation. Modeling presented in the article suggests that with ambitious but achievable innovation, European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13% by 2050, potentially saving enough renewable electricity to power 27 million heat pumps. If manufacturers push further, efficiency gains could reach 17%, underscoring the significant role aircraft technology can play in meeting EU climate goals. To unlock this potential, the article recommends strengthening
energyaviationdecarbonizationsustainable-aviation-fuelsaircraft-innovationemissions-reductiongreen-technologyWeak Aircraft Innovation Undercutting Aviation’s Green Transition - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights concerns that the aviation industry's reliance on conventional fossil-fuel-powered aircraft and slow technological innovation are jeopardizing its decarbonization goals. Despite the Paris Air Show showcasing new aircraft, most are incremental updates of older models rather than breakthrough designs. A new analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that if manufacturers accelerated innovation—particularly in zero-emission technologies such as hydrogen propulsion—European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13-17% by 2050 compared to a business-as-usual scenario. This improvement could reduce cumulative CO₂ emissions by 123 million tonnes, equivalent to removing 62 million petrol and diesel cars from European roads for a year. The article emphasizes that innovation in aircraft design has stagnated over the past decade, with no new models expected in the next ten years. Airbus and Boeing, the dominant players, have delayed or paused the introduction of disruptive technologies, instead opting to update older airframes like the Airbus A320neo and
energyaviationgreen-transitiondecarbonizationaircraft-innovationrenewable-electricityhydrogen-aircraftWeak Aircraft Innovation Undercutting Aviation’s Green Transition - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights concerns about the aviation industry's slow progress in innovating greener aircraft technologies, which threatens its ability to meet decarbonization targets. Ahead of the Paris Air Show, analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that reliance on conventional fossil-fuel-powered aircraft and incremental improvements, such as re-engining older models, are insufficient. T&E’s modeling suggests that with ambitious innovation—such as the development and deployment of zero-emission aircraft—European aviation could improve efficiency by up to 13-17% by 2050, potentially reducing CO₂ emissions by 123 million tonnes. This reduction equates to removing 62 million petrol and diesel cars from European roads for a year and would significantly contribute to the sector’s green transition. However, the article points out that aircraft innovation has stalled over the past decade, with no new models expected in the next ten years. Major manufacturers Airbus and Boeing dominate the market but have largely focused on incremental updates rather than disruptive
energyaviationgreen-technologydecarbonizationaircraft-innovationrenewable-energyhydrogen-aircraftElectric HyBrid Passenger Plane In Development: The ES-30 - CleanTechnica
energyhybrid-electricaviationdecarbonizationelectric-aircraftbattery-technologyclimate-changeWizz Air’s Sewage-to-Fuel Deal Helps Blow Up Five Energy Myths - CleanTechnica
energydecarbonizationaviationbiofuelsliquid-fuelselectrificationclimate-changeLondon-New York in 45 mins: New hypersonic jet could fly 7x speed of sound
materialsenergyhypersonicaviationhydrogenaerospacetechnologyFuturistic jet flies 3,600 miles with no windows and 50% less fuel
energyefficiencyaviationfuel-consumptionsustainable-designtechnologyinnovationCanada firm's eVTOL becomes first to achieve full wing transition
robotIoTenergymaterialseVTOLhybrid-electricaviationFlying taxi engines produce weird sound, but scientists have found a fix
energyelectric-vehiclesaviationnoise-reductionboundary-layer-ingesting-enginesgreen-technologyfuel-efficiencyAviation Professionals Call For A New Flight Plan On Emissions
energyemissionsaviationclimate-changesustainable-aviation-fuelscarbon-footprintfossil-fuelsAirline Emissions Soar to Pre-COVID Levels as Europe Fails to Price Their Pollution
airline-emissionsaviationEU-carbon-marketpollution-pricingclimate-changeEuropeenvironmental-policy