The future of flying is electric planes

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If you’ve ever played with a carbon footprint calculator and plugged in your flight history, you’ve seen how a trip just an hour or two away ballooned your total impact on the environment

All that jet fuel takes a toll, but electric planes may swoop in and help — one day. Instead of those 176 pounds of carbon emissions for one measly roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, an emissions-free aircraft could fly that same distance. 

Tesla — and to a lesser extent Nissan, Chevy, and even Toyota with its hybrid Prius — made the masses believe in electric cars. Now, many companies want flyers to believe in electric planes.  Read more…

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Zunum Aero bets on hybrid electric engines for its small commuter jet

The traditional aviation industry typically moves rather slowly, but over the last few years, we’ve seen a number of upstarts that are challenging the status quo both in the general and commercial aviation business. One of those is Zunum Aero, which is looking to produce a small hybrid electric-powered commuter plane for six to 12 […]

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This flight-sharing service is like Uber Pool for private planes

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No shoes were removed, no toiletries put into separate clear bags, and there was no need to arrive two hours before the flight. 

As part of flight-sharing app Blackbird’s media flight, we walked right onto the tarmac to the door of our plane at the small but busy San Carlos Airport. San Francisco International is just 10 miles away, but this tiny airport would end up being much more efficient for a quick jaunt down the California coast.

We then climbed aboard a Pilatus PC-12, a pretty luxurious single-engine turboprop plane. For startup Blackbird’s newest service, dubbed Hitch, passengers fly on smaller private airplanes, splitting the cost of travel (that’s oil and fuel costs and any airport and rental fees) with the pilot and any passengers. We were flying fewer than 100 miles south and back for a day trip to show how smooth and simple this could all be, if only people could accept flying as a normal — instead of extravagant — travel option.  Read more…

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What you need to know about Tammie Jo Shults, the hero pilot with ‘nerves of steel’

As we learn more about Tuesday’s deadly explosion on a Southwest plane that killed one person and injured several others, we’re also learning more about the heroes in the story, particularly the pilot who managed to land the plane despite the blown-o…

View More What you need to know about Tammie Jo Shults, the hero pilot with ‘nerves of steel’

Norwegian Air claims record for shortest transatlantic flight, propelled by 200 mph tailwinds

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A bunch of lucky passengers may have made aviation history this week on a Norwegian Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from New York to London. The plane rode tailwinds of more than 200 mph on Jan. 15, allowing it to make the trip in just 5 hours and 13 minutes.

According to Norwegian Air, that’s the fastest transatlantic trip ever for a subsonic commercial aircraft. 

Those tailwinds — which hit 202 mph, according to Norwegian — propelled the plane to a top speed of 776 mph relative to the ground, also known as its groundspeed. The Dreamliner is the fuel-efficient plane Boeing unveiled in 2007. It boasts more leg room and larger windows than your average commercial jetliner, smart LED lighting, and the use of lightweight composite materials. Read more…

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View More Norwegian Air claims record for shortest transatlantic flight, propelled by 200 mph tailwinds

Woman gets entire airplane to herself after getting booked onto flight meant for staff

You know that delicious feeling you get when you’re on a half-empty flight and the seats next to you are free?
Well, imagine getting the whole plane to yourself.
SEE ALSO: Man jumps from emergency exit on airplane, stands on wing
This was exactly the…

View More Woman gets entire airplane to herself after getting booked onto flight meant for staff