Airbus Helicopters’ super-fast, efficient Racer makes maiden flight

Airbus Helicopters has flown its high-speed concept copter, which dashes 50% faster than other commercial copters, for the first time. The 249-mph (216-kt, 400-km/h) Racer demonstrator is not only fast, but consumes up to 25% less fuel.

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Airbus Helicopters’ super-fast, efficient Racer makes maiden flight

Airbus Helicopters has flown its high-speed concept copter, which dashes 50% faster than other commercial copters, for the first time. The 249-mph (216-kt, 400-km/h) Racer demonstrator is not only fast, but consumes up to 25% less fuel.

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Continue ReadingAirbus Helicopters’ super-fast, efficient Racer makes maiden flight

Video: Talon-A1 test vehicle makes near-hypersonic first powered flight

Stratolaunch Systems, the company behind the world's largest aircraft, is making headlines again. The firm's Talon-A1 hypersonic test aircraft has successfully completed its first powered flight, which took place last weekend in Mojave, California.

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Video: Wave Engine’s UAV test flight brings pulsejet into 21st century

Wave Engine Corp has aced a demonstration flight of a simple jet engine with no moving parts. A modern version of a pulsejet, the J-1 engine powered a UAV through take-off and several mid-air stop/starts before the aircraft nailed the landing.

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Doroni announces fan-in-wing, cruise-capable buy ‘n’ fly eVTOL

After making its first manned eVTOL flight last June, Florida's Doroni Aerospace has announced its next model. The H1X rocks coaxial ducted fans and pusher props, and targets 120 mph (200 km/h) cruise speeds for up to 40 minutes.

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FlyNow eCopter takes a smaller, simpler approach to “air taxi” travel

There are now a number of companies working on eVTOL "air taxis," most of which look a bit like larger versions of consumer quadcopter drones. The eCopter is different, however, in a way that could make it more likely to see real-world use.

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LuftCar signs deal to develop detachable flying vans in the Philippines

Florida's LuftCar has designed a real burger with the lot: a hydrogen-powered jeepney van that backs into a special detachable airframe to turn into a high-speed, long-range, cruise-capable vectored-thrust eVTOL, perfect for island hopping.

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eHang’s eVTOL air taxi will cost buyers less than $350,000 (in China)

While some other urban air mobility startups are still just producing renderings, eHang's EH 216 eVTOL has already been leared for commercial air taxi work in China. The company has now gone a step further, by announcing the retail price.

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Continue ReadingeHang’s eVTOL air taxi will cost buyers less than $350,000 (in China)

Paddle wheel ground effect vehicle accelerates as it skims the surface

Things can get ugly and inefficient when a ground effect vehicle accidentally skims the water, adding significant drag that can drastically slow it down, wrench it sideways or just cost energy. One inventor is solving this problem with paddle wheels.

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Kawasaki’s supercharged 1,000cc Ninja-copter drone lifts 440 pounds

Armed with a 300-horsepower, supercharged engine from Kawasaki's fearsome H2R hyperbike, the K-Racer X1 unmanned helicopter is an absolute beast of a cargo drone, the size of a small car. Watch it lifting a national-record weight in this new video.

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Continue ReadingKawasaki’s supercharged 1,000cc Ninja-copter drone lifts 440 pounds