New Atlas

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Cloud study shows how planes can significantly boost rainfall in their path

Michael Irving February 3, 2019

Aircraft have been known to mess with the clouds as they pass through or over them. A new study has found that planes could be boosting rainfall and snowfall by up to 10 times, and examined the microphysics behind it.

A new study shows how planes can affect clouds, boosting rainfall up to 10 times in ...

Aircraft

HondaJet Elite goes greener, farther and quieter

Nick Lavars May 28, 2018

The HondaJet is an already impressive piece of aerospace engineering. Now Honda is upping the ante, today announcing the HondaJet Elite, which is claimed to not only fly farther than its competitors, but also fly quieter, with new noise-attenuating technology to keep noise down in the cabin.

The HondaJet Elite will come in three color variants: Ice Blue, Ruby Red and Monarch Orange

Digital Cameras

Gallery: Breathtaking aerial photography from a 747 cockpit

Rich Haridy May 21, 2018

Christiaan van Heijst is an airline pilot with over a decade's experience flying everything from small Turboprops to massive Boeing 747s. He's also a photographer able to capture spectacular images from his privileged perspective at 35,000 ft.

Lightning in the distance captured by airline pilot Christiaan van Heijst

Aircraft

Battery-powered electric plane quietly takes to Australian skies for the first time

Rich Haridy January 7, 2018

Pipistrel’s Alpha Electro took to the skies in Australia recently, marking the first time an electric light aircraft was flown in the country. The plane has been designed to be an efficient and cheap pilot training craft and this first flight marks a new frontier for electric aircraft in Australia.

Electro.Aero plans to use the battery electric plane for new pilot training

Aircraft

First tests of world's largest plane's massive engines

Rich Haridy September 20, 2017

Back in June, the world’s largest plane emerged from its hangar for the first time. Now the team has crossed another milestone by completing the first round of engine testing, continuing the groundwork needed to get the beast into the air in 2019.

Successful engine tests are another milestone crossed in the journey to getting this beast into the ...

Aircraft

Photos: Getting nose-to-nose with vintage aircraft

Scott Collie February 3, 2017

To some people, planes are more than metal tubes full of smelly passengers and cramped seats. French photographer Manolo Chrétien is one of them. His new Nose Art gallery is designed to give people a fresh look at a range of aircraft, from hulking warplanes to the ill-fated Concorde.

Manolo Chrétien's exhibition looks at the history of planes head on

Telecommunications

Will plans to use commercial aircraft for a worldwide wireless network fly?

Michael Irving December 22, 2016

There’s a whole world of unconnected people out there, and companies are using satellites, drones or even balloons to beam internet to remote areas. Now Airborne Wireless Network plans to make use of the several thousand commercial aircraft in the sky at any given moment to create a meshed network.

The AIrborne Wireless Network is a proposed system that would use commercial aircraft as nodes in ...

Aircraft Feature

Wing to wing: Wild men and machines of the Reno Air Race

Loz Blain December 14, 2016

Roaring, million-dollar World War 2 birds, chopped and tuned within an inch of disaster, wing to wing in a 400-plus mph circuit race over the baking Reno desert. New Atlas visits the world's fastest motorsport race, and meets some of its extraordinary characters.

Wing to wing: an optical illusion. Racers try to keep at least an entire wingspan between ...

Aircraft

Cessna Citation Longitude super mid-size jet completes maiden flight

David Szondy October 11, 2016

The business jet market has shown healthy growth in recent years and Cessna has reaffirmed its desire to join the big hitters with the maiden flight of the Citation Longitude super-midsize jet.

The Cessna Citation Longitude super midsize business jet during its maiden flight

Aircraft

In pictures: Oshkosh EAA Airventure 2014

Angus MacKenzie August 8, 2014

The hangar doors have closed on Oshkosh EAA AirVenture for another year with over 500,000 visitors having passed through the gates. Here's a closer look at the sights on offer at one of the world's biggest aviation gatherings.

Lockheed Model 10 Electras at EAA AirVenture (Photo: Angus MacKenzie/Gizmag.com)