Aircraft

By observing a barn owl in flight as it contended with strong winds, scientists have discovered how its wings can act as a suspension system to absorb the forces in mid-air, lessons they hope to apply to the development of small-scale aircraft.

Austrian company Cyclotech is planning to begin flight-testing an 80-kg (176-lb) demonstrator of its unique electric VTOL airframe, which uses Voith-Schneider propellers instead of rotors for exceptional agility and control in the air.

A feasibility study modeled on the VoloCity multirotor electric air taxi has concluded that electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft would benefit emergency air rescue services. Now the project is looking to begin operational testing in 2023.

At the 2020 World UAV Conference in Shenzhen, Chinese heavy drone company Autoflight unveiled a big new canard-style electric VTOL cargo drone, and announced its intentions to develop a similar aircraft for urban air taxi operations.

Scientists in Europe researching aerodynamic forces have opened up some interesting new avenues of study inspired by fish scales, which could eventually lead to drag reductions in aerial vehicles of as much as 25 percent.

How often does an average hypercar get to hit top speed? This beast would let you unleash the full power of an electric drivetrain plus 4,000 pounds of jet thrust any time you hit the runway, with 500+ mph airspeeds, huge range and aerobatic chops.

Aviation startup Boom Supersonic has unveiled a fully assembled version of its XB-1 demonstrator. Built to break the sound barrier, the sleek aircraft is a one-third-scale prototype of what the company hopes will become the world’s fastest airliner.

Paris Region, ADP and RATP are eyeing the development of an urban air mobility branch ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, and have joined forces with German air taxi startup Volocopter to make it happen.

Richard Browning's Jet Suit may have a lock on cool, but now it's looking for practical applications. GNAAS has collaborated with Gravity Industries on a test flight in the Lake District to see if the flight system could be used by paramedics.

British company Samad Aerospace has unveiled a very unique VTOL aircraft design. The long-range, high-speed Q-Starling uses modified helicopter turbine engines to power turbojet thrusters as well as to charge the battery on an electric VTOL system.

ZeroAvia says it completed the world's first hydrogen-fuel-cell powered flight of a commercial-grade aircraft when a modified Piper M-class six-seater plane took off from its facility in England, and completed a full-pattern circuit before landing.

Having tested out its aircraft in Dubai, Singapore, Helsinki and Germany, Volocopter is now turning its attention to Japan through a new agreement with Japan Airlines, and is preparing for a commercial launch in the country within a few years.