Important Innovations Collection

    DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane MAKING NEW AVIATION HISTORY - FLYING ELECTRIC                                                                                          Source:  Beta Technologies Sirius XM founder & serial entrepreneur Martine Rothblatt has brought t...

Alice is Successfully Test Flown                                             Source: Eviation Green, Zero Carbon Emissions Flying Alice, an all-electric 9-passenger, commuter plane, has successfully completed its first test flight.  The zero-carbon emissions aircraft, being developed by Washington state based Eviation, is targeted to service commuter and cargo routes between 150 and 250 miles. The e-plane has a flying range of 288 miles on a charge.  Alice is not just an electric plane prototype.  There are already significant sales orders for it, including from regional air carrier Cape Air, which operates out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and national package carrier DHL. Alice is on track to become the 1st, all new, all electric commercial air carrier when it gets full FAA approval to fly passengers. Tech Specs During the 8-minut...

Sweden's Heart Aerospace Takes Orders For its Electric Passenger Plane                                             Source:  Heart Aerospace Zero Emissions Flying  Swedish startup Heart Aerospace is developing the world's first, 30-seat electric passenger plane.  The prototype is being built to fly 124 miles on battery power alone.  With an accompanying reverse-hybrid engine consisting of 2 turbo generators powered by sustainable aviation fuel, the aircraft's range doubles to 248 miles. Called the ES-30, it's a hot electric plane prototype that's scheduled for delivery in 2028.  Heart is getting investment money from Air Canada and Sweden's largest aerospace company Saab AB.  Saab and Air Canada are investing $5 million each in Heart.  Air Canada also has placed an order for 30 of the ES-30 electric passenger planes....

Flying Taxi Has 30 Tilting Jet Fans To Fly                                             Source:  Lilium Radical New Aviation Technology At the recent Farmborough Air Show in the UK, Munich-based eVTOL startup Lilium unveiled its 6 passenger and 1 pilot new eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle).  The electric flying machine has 30 tilting jet fans to lift off, fly and land. It is revolutionary aviation technology that Lilium hopes to have European certification to fly commercially by 2025.  Lilium is collaborating with a global leader in aircraft systems and cabin design, Diehl Aviation to finalize the vehicle. Timeframe and Tech Specs Lilium is significantly accelerating the testing and development of the eVTOL.  The company has faced some criticism for slippage in its time frames.  5th generation eVTOL demonstrato...

Horizon Aircraft's Cavorite X5                                             Source: Horizon Aircraft Brand New eVTOL Design From Toronto, Canada's Horizon Aircraft, a new and good-looking eVTOL that is very close to hitting the skies.  The stylish breakthrough aircraft is called the Cavorite X5 and it is now a 50%-scale prototype for testing and development.  The aircraft is getting rave reviews for its unique combination of eVTOL technologies that can vertically takeoff and lift and its traditional airplane technologies that can takeoff, soar and land. X5 is a much-anticipated new aviation concept that also has sleek, good looks and tremendous efficiency. The Wings Are the Differentiators The aircraft's wings are the key differentiator.  They open and contain 16 ducted fans that provide vertical lift.  Once the plane reaches altitude,...

Electric Seagliders                                                  Source:  REGENT REGENT & Hawaiin Airlines Partner on New Type of E-Plane A fascinating new form of aviation technology is being developed.  Boston-based REGENT (which stands for Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport) has developed a new type of electric aircraft that flies just above the surface of the water. Now, Hawaiian airlines is partnering with and investing in REGENT, which was founded by two MIT trained engineers with significant, real world, aviation and aerospace experience.  Hawaiian Airlines expects to deploy the all-electric powered, next generation, sea glider planes for inter-island travel.  This is a brand-new form of zero emissions flying.  In fact, it is a brand-new category in the commercial aviation m...

Test Flights for the X-57 Maxwell Start in June                                                  Source:  NASA NASA's Chases Zero Emissions Aviation A big part of the future of flying will be electric planes with zero emissions green flights, no inflight carbon emissions and much quieter aircraft.  This is a future that NASA is betting on.  NASA's electric, experimental X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell electric plane, will begin test flights in June. The vehicle has an electric propulsion system that makes flying cleaner, quieter and more sustainable.  The X-57 is a key component of NASA's X-planes series, which also includes a super-quiet, supersonic electric passenger jet, the X-59 QueSST, which is next in line for test flights after X-57 in NASA's fascinating X series of experimental aircraft for use on Earth not in space, yet. ...

New NASA e-Plane May Fly This Year                                                                                                Source:  NASA Green Skies with the X-57 Maxwell NASA is spearheading a major transformation of the airline industry to electric power.  NASA's experimental plane, the X-57 Maxwell, is powered solely by electricity.  Maxwell is a member of NASA's distinguished tradition of X Planes, which are experimental. NASA expects to fly it this year to prove that Maxwell's unique electric technology works.  NASA converted a gas powered Italian Tecnam P2006T into the electric powered Maxwell.  The e-plane is a two-seater.  First flight is expected in late summer ...

US-Based MagniX and Brazil's Desaer Partner on Electric Aircraft                                             Source:  Desaer and MagniX E-Plane Uses Significantly Less Fuel With Reduced Emissions An important, global partnership has been announced in the development of electric powered aircraft.  Everett, Washington based MagniX and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Desaer have formed a partnership to develop a hybrid electric plane for regional commuting.  The plane will be an electric hybrid version of Desaer's ATL-100 regional aircraft.  The hybrid electric propulsion system is being developed by MagniX.  The environmental importance of this new aviation technology is significant.  The companies say the new plane will operate with 25 to 40% less fuel consumption depending on the range. Big Fuel and Emissions Savings The new hybr...

British Company Launching Dual Electric Plane Efforts                                             Source:  Rolls Royce Rolls Royce Seeks Leadership Role in Urban Air Mobility UK-based aerospace and aviation engine company Rolls Royce is launching major initiatives to move forward and dominate the global electric aviation industry.  The company says by 2025 it expects to deploy an electric plane capable of flying 6 to 8 passengers as much as 80 nautical miles.  The e-plane will be the first commercial application for its P-Volt.  That's a battery electric system with 600 kilowatt hours of power that can be used in regional commuter e-planes or eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff & landing) vehicles. Rolls Royce believes that in the next 3 to 5 years, urban air mobility and regional air mobility with electric vehicles will begin to flourish...

The Spirit of Innovation Successfully Flies                                                  Source: Rolls-Royce Jet Zero Emissions Flying Rolls-Royce has successfully flight tested an all-electric plane that recently completed its 15 minute maiden voyage.  The aircraft is called "The Spirit of Innovation" and it is a key piece of technology in Rolls-Royce's journey to "jet zero" otherwise known as zero emissions flying.  Global jet travel is one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the primary cause of Climate Change.  The World Wildlife Federation claims that flying is the most polluting form of human activity.  It is becoming increasingly clear that electric aircraft are a critical weapon in global efforts to save the environment from the ravages of Climate Change. More Intensive Testing For Spir...

Stunning, Electric Jet Going into Test Flights                                             Source:  Eviation's Alice Alice Invented & Developed by Israel's Eviation Alice is the world's first all-electric regional commuter aircraft, designed to make flying sustainable, affordable and quiet. Israel based Eviation, with US offices in Washington, is preparing to start a series of test flights on this very innovative, electric, luxury jet.  The e-plane can carry 9 passengers and a 2 person crew.  It has a range of 506 miles on a single charge on its huge 820 kWh battery pack.  Alice runs on three electric engines that power three variable pitch electric props in a push formation.  The electric engines and props are on the two wing tips and also on the tail of the plane, which is in a V formation.  The configuration is designed to...

Combination Plane and Drone - Tayln Air                                                  Source:  Talyn Air No Need For an Airport Los Angeles-based Talyn Air has designed a unique e-VTOL, an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.  The vehicle is a concept that flies like a plane but launches and lands with the assistance of a large drone. The unmanned drone flies the e-VTOL to its flight level where it releases the e-VTOL once its rotors reach a flight sustaining speed. The drone returns to its base to be recharged for another takeoff or landing.  Talyn Air says this system is so efficient it can travel three to five times farther than most other electric planes. Rocket Science Talyn Air was co-founded by two astronauts, Jamie Gull and Evan Mucasey, who both worked on Crew Dragon and the Falcon 9 rocket at SpaceX.  ...

Global Development of Commuter Electric Planes                                             Source:  Faradair Source:  Eviation's Alice US, UK, Israel Global Epicenters of E-Plane R&D One of the hottest new areas under development for the future of travel is electric aircraft.  Major centers of electric plane innovation include Israel, the US and the United Kingdom.  In the UK, a startup aviation company Faradair plans to deploy a fleet of 300 electric planes by 2030.  The planes can carry 18 passengers.  They are tri-planes driven by propellers that are powered by electricity.  Faradair just contracted with Seattle, Washington based MagniX to provide electric motors for the fleet. MagniX Washington based MagniX is an up and coming player in the electric aviation industry.  It has a deal with Sidney Seaplanes in Aust...