All posts tagged: flying

UK invests £20m in flying taxis and drone services

UK invests £20m in flying taxis and drone services

Published by skeptic

The UK is gearing up for a transportation revolution, with flying taxis and large-scale drone services set to become a reality. In a landmark move, the UK Government has announced over £20m in funding to accelerate the development of next-generation aviation technology. Announced by the UK Aviation Minister Mike Kane, this funding aims to break down regulatory barriers, enhance public services, and propel the country toward a greener, more efficient future in air mobility. Minister Kane explained: “I want the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world. “That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport while tackling emissions, traffic, and potentially saving lives. “Our investment alongside the new Future of Flight industry group will bring together tech experts, drone operators, flying vehicle manufacturers and local communities to identify where change needs to happen.” Unlocking barriers to innovation The funding will help streamline regulations, allowing the aviation sector to embrace futuristic solutions like electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and autonomous …

What it takes to make flying safe

What it takes to make flying safe

Published by José

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Wednesday night’s deadly airplane crash was tragic—and, to many experts, not altogether surprising. The collision between a commercial airplane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., has led many people to take a closer look at the complex systems that commercial flying relies on, and the strain that some of those systems are under. I spoke with my colleague Ian Bogost, who writes often about the airline industry, about the factors that shape our perceptions of flying. Lora Kelley: This incident is not an aberration, but rather something experts seem to have seen coming. What were some of the warning signs? Ian Bogost: Aviation experts had been fearing that something like this would happen not just at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but all across the country. Near misses have been on the rise, as have “runway incursions”—planes accidentally …

Fear of Flying Is Different Now

Fear of Flying Is Different Now

Published by Sam

“Can you never do that again?” my son texted me on Monday in our family group chat. I had sent a series of photos of my flight in the tiny Cessna Caravan that had just flown my mortal being 120 miles, from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to West Lafayette, Indiana. The nine-seat aircraft, which runs on a single turboprop engine, was so small that the ground crew had to weigh luggage and passengers in order to distribute their weight evenly in the cabin. It was, in short, the kind of plane that makes it easy to fear for your life. By contrast, I hadn’t been concerned at all—and my son had found no cause to worry—about the American Airlines regional jet that I’d taken on the first leg of my trip, from St. Louis to Chicago. Just a few days later, an American Airlines regional jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., killing everyone involved: 60 passengers, four crew members, and three service members. The National Transportation Safety Board has …

How ancient flying reptiles ruled the skies – new research

How ancient flying reptiles ruled the skies – new research

Published by skeptic

Scientists have long puzzled over how pterosaurs became the first vertebrates to master flight. Some pterosaur species, such as the Quetzalcoatlus were the largest known animals to ever take to the skies, with wingspans of over ten meters (on par with military aircraft like the Spitfire). My team’s new study may help solve the evolutionary mystery, revealing how a vane on the tip of their tails may have helped these ancient animals fly more efficiently. It took some time for active flight to evolve in the natural world. The first flying animals were insects similar to dragonflies, which flapped their wings over swampy forests of the Carboniferous period (over 300 million years ago). Around 100 million years later (in a period known as the Triassic), the first bony animals, vertebrates, took to the skies. These vertebrates were pterosaurs, which dominated the skies of the Mesozoic era som 251-66 million years ago, swooping over the heads of dinosaurs. Pterosaurs were unlike any animal known today. Imagine a flying squirrel hybridised with a lizard. All known members …

Hear Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast from 1938: The Original Tale of Mysterious Objects Flying Over New Jersey

Hear Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast from 1938: The Original Tale of Mysterious Objects Flying Over New Jersey

Published by José

A month ago, drones were spot­ted near Mor­ris Coun­ty, New Jer­sey. Since then, reports of fur­ther sight­ings in var­i­ous loca­tions in the region have been lodged on a dai­ly basis, and anx­i­eties about the ori­gin and pur­pose of these uniden­ti­fied fly­ing objects have grown apace. “We have no evi­dence at this time that the report­ed drone sight­ings pose a nation­al secu­ri­ty or pub­lic safe­ty threat or have a for­eign nexus,” declared the FBI and the Depart­ment of Home­land Secu­ri­ty in a joint state­ment. But the very lack of fur­ther infor­ma­tion on the mat­ter has stoked the pub­lic imag­i­na­tion; one New Jer­sey con­gress­man spoke of the drones hav­ing come from an Iran­ian “moth­er­ship” off the coast. If this real-life news sto­ry sounds famil­iar, con­sid­er the fact that Mor­ris Coun­ty lies only about an hour up the road from Grovers Mill, the famous site of the fic­tion­al Mar­t­ian inva­sion dra­ma­tized in Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adap­ta­tion of H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. Pre­sent­ed like a gen­uine emer­gency broad­cast, it “fooled many who tuned in late and …

Microscopic black holes may be flying through our solar system

Microscopic black holes may be flying through our solar system

Published by skeptic

asteroid: A rocky object in orbit around the sun. Most asteroids orbit in a region that falls between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers refer to this region as the asteroid belt. astrophysicist: A scientist who works in an area of astronomy that deals with understanding the physical nature of stars and other objects in space. atom: The basic unit of a chemical element. Atoms are made up of a dense nucleus that contains positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons. The nucleus is orbited by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. black hole: A region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation (including light) can escape. celestial: (in astronomy) Of or relating to the sky, or outer space. colleague: Someone who works with another; a co-worker or team member. cosmologist: A scientist who studies the origin and development of the cosmos, or universe. cosmos: (adj. cosmic) A term that refers to the universe and everything within it. dark matter: Physical objects or particles that emit no detectable radiation …

Meet Airwolf: The flying motorcycle capable of speeds over 140 MPH

Meet Airwolf: The flying motorcycle capable of speeds over 140 MPH

Published by skeptic

Czech company UDX has introduced a remarkable electric vertical take-off and landing (evTOL) prototype named Airwolf. This hoverbike is designed to soar with speed, efficiency, and agility. Using individually tilting ducted fan propulsion technology, Airwolf can hover and cruise at speeds up to 142 miles per hour. Airwolf stands out with its ability to generate 430 horsepower and exhibit “hummingbird-like” agility. The hoverbike is fully electric, equipped with four independently moving fan units that reduce strain on its batteries, thereby extending its flight range. However, since the prototype’s unveiling, UDX has identified areas needing improvement. Despite its impressive speed and agility, Airwolf is limited to a flight time of just 25 minutes. In the United States, pilots must undergo 20 hours of flight training to obtain a sports pilot license to operate the prototype. Additionally, the cost of owning an Airwolf is steep, with a price tag of $320,000, according to Captain Electro. The technology behind evTOLs like Airwolf offers significant benefits including reduced traffic congestion from traditional vehicles, zero direct pollution due to electric …

New Bentley Flying Spur Has 782 PS, 0 to 60 in 3.3 Seconds

New Bentley Flying Spur Has 782 PS, 0 to 60 in 3.3 Seconds

Published by skeptic

The automotive world is abuzz with the arrival of the fourth-generation Bentley Flying Spur, a luxury sedan that pushes the boundaries of performance and refinement. This latest iteration of the Flying Spur features an all-new 782 PS, 1000 Nm ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ powertrain, which seamlessly combines a high-performance V8 engine with an efficient electric motor. The result is a vehicle that not only delivers breathtaking acceleration but also offers an impressive electric-only range, making it well-suited for both spirited drives and eco-friendly city commutes. Performance and Efficiency Under the hood, the Bentley Flying Spur Ultra Performance Hybrid showcases a remarkable feat of engineering. At its heart lies a 600 PS 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which works in harmony with a 190 PS electric motor to produce a staggering total system output of 782 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque. This immense power propels the Flying Spur from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds, placing it firmly in the realm of supercars. However, the Flying Spur’s prowess extends beyond raw performance. With CO2 …

New Bentley Flying Spur Launching Next Week

New Bentley Flying Spur Launching Next Week

Published by skeptic

The automotive world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the new Bentley Flying Spur, a four-door supercar that promises to redefine luxury and performance. Set to make its debut at 12:30 BST on Tuesday, 10 September, this groundbreaking vehicle is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry. The Flying Spur is not merely another high-end sedan; it represents a significant advancement in both performance and efficiency, thanks to Bentley’s innovative Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. Boasting an astonishing 782 PS (771 bhp) and 1000 Nm of torque, this car is set to become the most powerful, dynamic, and efficient four-door vehicle in Bentley’s storied 105-year history. The introduction of the Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain marks a new era for Bentley, as the company continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of luxury automobiles. This innovative system combines the best of both worlds, offering the silent, effortless operation of electric power and the exhilarating performance of a combustion engine. The seamless transition between these two power sources ensures that drivers can …