AEROINNOVATIONS
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Airbus unveils the airliner of the future
AIRBUS RECENTLY UNVEILED ITS “2050 Concept
Cabin,” an airliner designed to give passengers
panoramic views of the passing sky. The aircraft
features “intelligent” cabin walls that could become
transparent and regulate the air temperature in
the cabin. Airbus says the airliner would eliminate
regulated class divisions in favor of personalized
zones that would offer relaxation, interactivity,
and working spaces. With onboard options like
holographic videos, a virtual golf driving range, and
massages while looking out through a transparent
upper fuselage, this flying experience seems much
more than 40 years away.
For more information and direct links to all the AeroInnovations stories, visit
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AEROINNOVATIONS highlights developments that have potential to impact the future of aviation. EAA does not necessarily endorse the ideas, products, services, or views stated.
EX TREME
CAPACITORS EXTEND
ELECTRIC FLIGHT
THE EXTREME CAPACITORS, AS
described in the 2011 CAFE
Electric Aircraft Symposium,
incorporate a unique lightweight
form of carbon nanotubes. These
light but powerful energy sources
can last through 1 million deep
cycles and can be charged in
minutes. They are proposed for
use in the Electric Eagle, an air
taxi concept designed for 300
mph and a 500-mile range.
AUSTRALIAN
HOVERBIKE PUSHES
POSSIBILITIES
A HOVERBIKE PROTOTYPE IS
being designed in Australia for
use in cattle mustering, search
and rescue, aerial surveying,
firefighting, and more. The
prototype is powered by a
1,100-cc flat-twin four-stroke
with one camshaft, four valves
per cylinder, a central balancer
shaft, and two Tasmanian Oak
propellers. The hoverbike weighs
240 pounds, with maximum
speed estimated at 175 mph.
120 MINUTES FROM
NEW YORK TO PARIS
THE 20-SEAT MACH 3. 5
supersonic jet HyperMach
SonicStar will be powered by an
engine with a five-stage turbine
using superconducting turbine-ring generator technology.
Passengers who can afford a
seat on the recently announced
SonicStar would be able to get
from New York to Paris in less
than two hours and from New
York to Sydney, Australia, in only
five hours.
ELECTRO-THERMAL
SYSTEM ZAPS WING
LEADING-EDGE ICE
THE ELECTRO-THERMAL ICE
PROTECTION SYSTEM (EIPS)
developed by Bombardier
Aerospace demonstrated
the effectiveness of this new
electric-powered ice protection
system for wing leading edges
during recent test flights. The
EIPS technology eliminates
bleed-air ducting for icing
prevention and saves energy.
