Aircraft

A speedy all-electric aircraft being developed with one eye on the record books has taken another step forward, with Rolls-Royce taking its Spirit of Innovation plane to the runway for the very first time.

Metal fatigue is a huge problem when it comes to building and maintaining everything from aircraft to wind turbines. An Australian system is redefining how to pinpoint structural stress using a compact alternative to traditional mechanical strain gauges.

In the culmination of three years development from initial design to flying prototype, Boeing's Loyal Wingman combat drone has completed its first flight in the skies over the Woomera Range Complex in Australia.

HyPoint's "turbo" fuel cells promise 3x the power output of regular designs, with 4x the lifespan and a range of other benefits that make them ideal for long-range hydrogen aircraft and eVTOLs. We speak to the CEO about the company's progress and plans.

A stunning new video from Joby Aviation gives us a sense of just how revolutionary these electric VTOL air taxis will be in urban settings compared to noisy helicopters. Founder JoeBen Bevirt doesn't even have to raise his voice as it takes off.

San Francisco's Aura Aerospace is working on a remarkably odd idea: replacing batteries in electric VTOL air taxis with high-powered "Powercell" ultracapacitors capable of massive power output and 10-minute charging, in long-range hybrid setups.

We're all hoping for electric VTOL aircraft, but France's Ascendance isn't willing to wait for batteries and hydrogen to break through. The company says its Atea hybrid will deliver long-range VTOL travel with just 20 percent of a helicopter's emissions.

Meet the Maker. This is our first look at Archer Aviation's 12-rotor eVTOL air taxi, but it won't be the last. United Airlines has put in a provisional billion-dollar order for a fleet of 200 of these beasts, expecting a commercial launch in 2024.

eVTOL market leader Joby Aviation has announced its first revenue in a partnership with the US Air Force's Agility Prime program, as well as the path it's agreed on with the FAA for certifying its revolutionary tilt-rotor electric air taxi.

Gyrodynes have been around for a long time, but the electric aviation revolution might finally give them their day in the sun. Fast, efficient, well-understood and vastly safer than multirotor eVTOLs, they may have a head start in the air taxi race.

As part of its goal to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, Rolls-Royce has begun testing 100-percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in a small commercial business jet, which could lead to lifecycle emissions reductions of over 75 percent.

Following a Kickstarter in 2017 to gauge interest in an electric flying car racing series, and an international public debut in 2019, Alauda Aeronautics has now unveiled a full-sized, fully functioning electric flying racing car – the Airspeeder Mk3.