Airbus’s parent company EADS just unveiled the Zehst concept plane at the Paris Air Show today and it is seemingly stealing the show in a big way — and it’s not going to be here for another 40 years. The Zero Emission Hypersonic Transportation is being called “The Hypersonic Heir To Concorde.” Where in the ’60s-era Concorde did London to NYC in 3.5 hours, the Zehst can theoretically do it in just 90 minutes while emitting just water vapor and not causing a window-shattering sonic bomb. → Read More
Owners of super-light laptops can appreciate the miracle of carbon fiber, a strong but light material being used more and more in high-end notebooks. Airbus is now using the same carbon fiber material in the wings of its new A400M military aircraft. The reduced weight of the wings “cuts the fuel consumption by at least 20%," said Dave Phipps, head of the Airbus carbon fiber research department. "It’s a revolutionary technology. It is so much lighter, and yet just as strong and just as safe," Phipps told BBC News. The A400M planes will replace current C-130 planes currently in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first A400M will be shown in Seville, Spain today but the planes won’t take flight until later this summer. → Read More
[photopress:airbusa320.jpg,full,center] Actual size European aircraft manufacturer Airbus will use hydrogen fuel cells to augment its internal electrical system on its A320. Since it’s a fuel cell, the only waste product will be water, which in turn will be used for the plane’s own ends. The generated water means aircraft won’t have to take additional water with them, thereby lowering weight and saving fuel. /me waits for “wasn’t the Hindenburg using hydrogen?” jokes. Airbus Develops Fuel Cells For In-flight Power [DailyTech] → Read More
[photopress:whalingrobot.jpg,full,center] What is it with Japan and whaling? There’s been plenty of international consternation over the country’s continued whaling policies but Japan, from what I’ve read, hasn’t been particularly cooperative. That’s where the tech comes in. Australia has deployed an AirBus A319 that’s loaded with specialized imaging and surveillance equipment to keep an eye out for Japanese whaling ships. According to what I just read on Wikipedia, Japan claims to be all about whaling for scientific purposes, but countries like Australia and the U.S. don’t believe it for a second. A deal was struck recently whereby the Japanese would knock it off, hence the high-tech approach to getting Japan to stop. Drudge’s headline tells it all: Flying robot to track whales off Australia… Spy v spy as Airbus joins the fight against whaling [The Sydney Morning Herald via Drudge] → Read More
You know, for all the cool gadgets and accouterments your place has, I sincerely doubt it’s anything compared to this Saudi Prince’s. Airbus said yesterday that it will outfit one of its A380 jets for Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. The “flying mansion,” as it’s known, costs some $300 million and comes with a free coffee maker. (Those princes love their joe!) The plane is big: each wing can hold 70 cars and is as tall as a seven-story building; my apartment fits a bed and an iMac. Whoever said money doesn’t buy happiness? I’d be plenty happy flying through the air drinking martinis and placing bets on thoroughbred horses, then stopping off at Côte d’Azur to gamble away hundreds of millions of dollars. Plenty happy. Saudi Prince Buying ‘Flying Palace’ Jet [AP/Breitbart] → Read More
Live in Europe? Like a quiet flight? Beware; the European Aircraft Safety Agency (EASA) recently approved a trial roll-out of AirBus’s on-board mobile phone systems. Luckily, the system can be set to a “quiet mode” of sorts, where only data transmissions could be sent and received. Still, the potential for a chatter-filled trip is there. And all you wanted was a nap. Cell phones on a plane!: Airbus gets approval in Europe [WirelessInfo] → Read More
