PteroDyanmics has secured a $4.65-million contract with the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to design, develop, and demonstrate in a maritime environment the next generation of its Transwing VTOL unmanned aerial system (UAS). More specifically, the company’s 330-pound P5 Transwing, which specializes in critical repair cargo.
Many have been waiting to see a street-legal flying car for decades now, and the Alef Model A might be the closest thing yet. There is so much demand that 3,200 people have already pre-ordered a $299,999 USD Model A, even before a fully-functional prototype has been shown to the public.
Photo credit: Lockheed Martin | Gary Tice
NASA’s X-59 supersonic research aircraft lit up the night sky with its unique Mach diamonds during a maximum afterburner test at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. This test was used to demonstrate the engine’s ability to generate the thrust required for supersonic flight.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to fly to the edge of space in Lockheed Martin’s U-2 spy plane, also known as Dragon Lady, then Sam Eckholm has just the video for you. The aircraft you’re about to see has been refreshed with upgraded onboard systems, a new mission computer designed to the U.S. Air Force’s open mission systems standard, and modern cockpit displays.
Sure, Flying Whales is no Samson Switchblade, but this massive hybrid airship can be used to transport cargo to remote locations around the world. It’s officially called the Large Capacity Airship 60 Tonne (LCA60T) and would cost as little as one-fifth to operate compared to a current-generation cargo carrier aircraft like the Airbus Beluga.
While we wait for NASA’s X-59 to complete its first supersonic flight, the Boom XB-1 demonstrator just achieved that feat today over the Mojave Desert. This makes it the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet and the first civil supersonic jet made in America.
You’ve seen the XPENG AEROHT X2, so the UDX Airwolf shouldn’t be too farfetched, or at least for an electric flying hoverbike. Put simply, this aircraft is capable of vertical taking-off, transitioning to forward flight, and then vertically landing, all powered by an electric powertrain.
Here’s an up-close look at the Boom Supersonic XB-1, a prototype aircraft that many are touting to be the Concorde’s successor. This demonstrator does not have a movable nose, but rather two nose-mounted cameras that are digitally augmented with attitude as well as flight path indications.
RICTOR’s Skyrider X1 is claimed to be the world’s first amphibious passenger flying motorcycle that seamlessly combines land and air functionality. It features a 4-axis, 8-propeller system for enhanced stability, while the chassis is made from carbon fiber composite as well as aviation-grade aluminum materials.
Photo credit: PNNL
While it may be a while until the tetrahertz camera is put to use in airports, TSA’s new Shoe Scanner may really speed things up when checking in for a flight. Put simply, after a passenger steps onto the shoe scanner, a harmless millimeter waves pass through the sole of the shoe and 3D data is sent to a computer for review.