Interestingly enough, the 787 Dreamliner’s first flight in the US was also from Houston to Chicago, so it seems that United is essentially starting all over again from the beginning with its flight schedule. United Airlines tweeted the news today, along with a photo saying, “I’m back by popular demand,” referring to the 787 coming back from its four-month hiatus. However, we’re not sure a lot of passengers are going to be too crazy about boarding a plane that was once grounded for malfunctions.

The Dreamliner’s lithium ion battery had overheating issues in multiple planes, leading to emergency landings and then eventually to a fleet-wide grounding by the FAA in order to further investigate the issue and fix the problem. The FAA grounded all 787 aircrafts back in January, and the planes were then clear to fly again in late April.

As for what the future holds for the 787, let’s hope the battery fixes hold up, or else Boeing will face even more scrutiny. It’s not unheard of for the same aircraft fleet to experience multiple issues, but we’re sure that Boeing and airlines flying 787s don’t want to have to deal with such a problem again, especially with such a new plane that comes with new technology.

The fix for the 787s was estimated at $23.5 million for the entire fleet, which the airlines themselves didn’t necessarily have to pay for, but we’re guessing United Airlines and others lost a bit of money due to canceled flights and the need to reschedule future flights that were planned to take the Dreamliner to their destination.

The X-47B is fully autonomous, meaning that it’s controlled automatically with computer software so that there doesn’t need to be a pilot to fly it, although someone could take control if need be. The new prototype drone is also designed specifically for aircraft carriers, and it’s made to take off and land just like a normal fighter jet would on an aircraft carrier.

The drone has a maximum altitude of over 40,000 feet with a range of more than 2,100 nautical miles. As for the speed of the drone, the Navy doesn’t disclose exact figures, but simply refers to its top speed as “high subsonic.” However, the drone is the size of a full-size fighter jet, and looks quite similar to a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk.

There has been increasing controversy over drones, though, and some countries say that the drone strikes are causing widespread civilian deaths since they operate with little human interaction, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping the US military for advancing the program and sending out more drones overseas. Plus, people here in the US are even concerned themselves over the privacy issues that drones create.

In any case, the next step for the X-47B drone is to land on the aircraft carrier, which is a much more difficult task than taking off, but there’s already video proof of the new prototype drone making a test landing on the ground to see if it could land on such a short runway on an aircraft carrier, and from the looks of it, a landing looks very much possible at this point.

VIA: CBS News

SOURCE: Navy Live

Early this morning, Boeing’s X-51A was released at an altitude of 50,000 over Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, taken to such a height via the USAF’s B-52H Stratofortress. Upon its release, the Boeing craft was propelled by a rocket booster to Mach 4.8, at which point the booster and an interstage were both tossed aside, leaving the scramjet engine to take it to Mach 5.1.

During the flight, the X-51A consumed all of its jet fuel, at which point it dived into the ocean. This was its fourth flight, a test run for the USAF’s Research Laboratory. Before today, the previous hypersonic flight record was established back in 2010. The project is also in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Boeing Phantom Works President Darryl Davis said: “This demonstration of a practical hypersonic scramjet engine is a historic achievement that has been years in the making. This test proves the technology has matured to the point that it opens the door to practical applications, such as advanced defense systems and more cost-effective access to space.”

[via Boeing]

Solar Impulse has a wingspan of 207 feet, which is 2/3 the length of an American football field and the same wingspan as many commercial jets. The plane also sports 12,000 solar cells and 900 pounds of batteries to keep it going for a prolonged period of time. The team of two tested-flew the plane in 2010, and it was able to stay in the sky for 26 hours straight.

However, only Piccard will be making the journey across the country, but it won’t be as fast as what a commercial jet could make the trip in. Solar Impulse has a top speed of around 50 miles per hour, so it’s expected to take a few days for the plane to reach New York, whereas a jumbo jet could make the trip in just a few hours.

If the Piccard name sounds familiar, than you’re on to something (no, not Star Trek). In 1999, Piccard circled the globe in a gas-powered balloon, and his father, Jacques Piccard, was the first person to descend to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 1960. After Piccard completes the flight across the US, his next goal is to take the plane around the entire world, just like he did with the balloon.

[via Smithsonian Magazine]

The airline announced on Twitter that they’re having issues with their computer system. Originally, the airline thought that there were issues with the Sabre booking tool, but it seems to only involve the airline’s reservation system. The latest report is that all American Airlines flights are grounded until 4pm CT.

It’s said that American Airlines runs over 3,300 flights per day, and that somewhere around 100,000 people are being affected by the ground delay. It’s also worth pointing out that American Airlines operates over 600 aircrafts that travel to around 260 countries, so based on that information, that’s certainly a lot of flights being grounded.

American Airlines stopped dispatching new flights, stopped boarding new flights, and stopped allowing people to check in starting at around 11 am CT, so the delay will last around six hours, according to when the airline first tweeted the issue. We’re not sure how they’ll manage to get everything back on track, but we’re guessing that employees will be working overtime for the next few days in order to get caught up.

UPDATE: American Airlines says that their “systems have been fully restored,” but as expected, there will be “continued flight delays and cancellations throughout the remainder of the day.”

[via CNBC]

Each of these lovely little flyers is a 5.9-pound aircraft with twin electric engines and a 3.75-foot wingspan. They’re each able to carry a one-pound payload that NASA chooses to fill with instrumentation that’ll allow them to study the volcano. Each of these planes is able to carry this payload for up to one hour inside a volcanic plume – important to keep in mind as this mission acts as another example of how military might can be used for civilian science purposes – a definite positive!

The full study had 10 total flights between March 11th and March 14th (of this year, 2013), each of them reaching above approximately 10,500 feet above sea level along the rim of the Torrialba summit crater. Flights reached up to 12,500 feet ASL, more than 2,000 feet above the Turrialba summit – hot stuff!

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California’s own David Pieri, this project’s principal investigator and a research scientist, noted the dangers of missions such as these.

““It is very difficult to gather data from within volcanic eruption columns and plumes because updraft wind speeds are very high and high ash concentrations can quickly destroy aircraft engines. Such flight environments can be very dangerous to manned aircraft. Volcanic eruption plumes may stretch for miles from a summit vent, and detached ash clouds can drift hundreds to thousands of miles from an eruption site.” – Pieri

It’s important to note that each of these flying craft are retired military tools, and that they’re being used here to improve NASA satellite data as well as aviation safety in the end. Instrumentation aboard the craft included the following:

• USMC visible and infrared video cameras
• Sulfur dioxide and particle sensors
• Automatic atmospheric sampling bottles keyed to measure sulfur dioxide concentration

This same research center (Ames) will be working on this project with larger SIERRA unmanned aircraft as well, each of them working with what they characterize as a more sophisticated mass spectrometer so they’ll be able to measure a whole new set of gasses pluming forth from Turrialba. These larger craft weigh in at around 400 pounds (takeoff weight) and have the ability to carry a 100-pound payload.

[via NASA]

Travel website Gadling got a sneak peek inside of an American Airlines cockpit where the iPads are just starting to roll out. The iPad Electronic Flight Bag essentially replaces 40 lbs. worth of flight manuals and other paperwork with one single iPad, as well as a HyperJuice external battery that acts as a backup battery to extend the iPad’s battery life an extra 24 hours if need be.

The iPad replaces a slew of manuals and books, including all the Jeppesen approach plates, company manuals, and operations manuals that pilots had to haul around all the time. All of that gets stuffed into an iPad, and the tablet gets attached to a mount that sits right beside the pilot for quick and easy access during a flight.

However, there’s still one manual that pilots will be required to carry around, even with the iPads, and that’s the Quick Response Handbook, which provides information on emergency procedures. However, it’s not that big of a manual, so pilots won’t see it as a big deal, especially since they’re getting rid of 40 pounds worth of paperwork already.

So far, American Airlines has approved the iPad for the Boeing 777, 737, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80, while approval for the 757 and 767 is forthcoming. iPad have to go through a series of tests from the FAA, just as rapid decompression in a hypobaric chamber, as well as testing of the iPad mounts.

[via Gadling]

During an analyst event, JetBlue announced that they will be calling their in-flight WiFi service “Fly-Fi,” a clever play on words with “Fly” and “WiFi.” The service will be powered by Exede Internet, which is owned by ViaSat. JetBlue hasn’t given a launch date yet, but they hope to have their first WiFi-enabled flight take off sometime later this year.

JetBlue also teased the new service, by releasing a video that demonstrates the speed of their new WiFi service compared to other top WiFi providers like Gogo, Row 44, and Panasonic’s own service. Of course, JetBlue boasts that their Fly-Fi option surfs the web at a much quicker rate than the other three providers.

The airline says that there’s still a lot of testing to be done, and the FAA still needs to come in and do a series of certification tests before the service can be put to public use. Currently, a large number of airlines have WiFi available, but you usually have to pay a small fee in order to get it. JetBlue will be one of the few airlines to offer free WiFi on board.

The last time you were on a flight how many Android tablets did you see compared to the iPad or iPad mini? Whether you’re a fan or not Apple still reigns supremacy in this regard. According to the number of devices connecting to Gogo’s services, the iPad is the device of choice above all others for in-flight entertainment.

Overall tablets take up 35% of all connected devices with laptops coming in at 33%. Then smartphones come in a very close 3rd and will soon pass laptops, currently sitting at 32% of all in-flight connected devices. Then the folks from Gogo break this down even further to reveal how far ahead in the sky Apple is over the competition.

In 2013 out of all mobile devices being used to connect through Gogo, 84% are running Apple’s iOS while only a small 16% are being powered by Google’s Android OS. If you single it down to smartphones the iPhone holds 73% of all users, while Android sits around 26%. Oh, and we can’t forget about BlackBerry and Windows Phone. The two combined only make up around 1% and aren’t even in the infographic. While this shows great numbers for Apple, in 2011 Android was only being used in 3.2% so they are certainly on the rise.

So when you’re 36,000 feet in the air what are you doing? Aside from checking destination weather or entertainment options, Gogo states most are just doing general web browsing. Mobile has certainly taken over the traditional laptop when it comes to travel WiFi needs, and Apple’s iOS is at the top of that list.

[via Gogo]

On its Google+ page, JetBlue posted up a few concept images of what traveling could look like through Google Glass, with the caption, “we would continue to help the world view air travel through a whole new lens.” With Google Glass, you could check the status of your flight, get directions to baggage claim, look up taxi fare estimates, and even see where a good place to park would be.

Of course, $1,500 is quite a bit of money, and while a wearable computer like Google Glass could be worth every penny, most consumers won’t want to pay that kind of cash, especially when their handy-dandy smartphone can do the same kinds of functions. Then again, it seems Google Glass is all about the convenience factor and not having to carry around a smartphone at all.

Either way, JetBlue’s concept is actually really stellar, and it makes us want to get a pair for ourselves to make traveling easier. The airline’s Google Glass concept is a part of Google’s own marketing campaign that asks users to tweet or post the hashtag #ifihadglass and explain what they would use Google Glass for.

[via Business Insider]

The two quadrocopters have small plates on top in order to catch the pole (called an inverted pendulum in this case). A lot of math went into figuring out the different algorithms needed for throwing the pole to the other quadrocopter safely and efficiently. However, a motion-capture system and wireless networking throughout the room helped out with that.

Essentially, Brescianini needed to figure out the exact positions, speeds, and angles that the two quadrocopter needed in order to perform the stunt. From there, it was just a matter of pressing the big green button and watching it all unfold. Of course, though, there were many factors that were a concern initially, including how the pole behaves while airborne, which is something that Brescianini had no control over, obviously.

In the end, the experiment took a lot of trial and error, but the end result is a beautiful acrobatic dance between the two quadrocopters, balancing a long pole amongst the two. We have to say that it’s certainly impressive, and it’s way better than watching the same remote control aircrafts doing synchronized dancing.

[via Shmahat Ma]

However, Airbus says that the reason for not using these unpredictable lithium-ion batteries has nothing to do with safety concerns, but rather scheduling and the possible delay of the A350 aircrafts, which are expected to ship to airlines sometime during the summer next year. Airbus says that they don’t want the ongoing battery investigation to interfere with their production schedule.

Airbus will switch back to traditional nickel-cadmium batteries in the A350, mostly because the technology has been proven solid over the years, and they believe in the safety of the tried-and-true batteries. Of course, Boeing’s bold step toward lithium-ion technology was unprecedented and an ultimate game-changer, but it was a risk that ended up turning sour for the airplane manufacturer.

Airbus expects its new A350 to make its first test flight sometime this summer, and it will then undergo further test flights over the year. The manufacturer plans to seek certification from European aviation authorities by early 2014, with an expected launch date of summer 2014, where the new plane will finally be ferrying passengers around the world.

[via WSJ]

According to Reuters, Boeing said that the test flight was “uneventful,” meaning that the two-hour flight didn’t experience any problems, and the lithium-ion batteries seemed to hold up. The plane took off from and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA, and the test crew on board were there to collect detailed information on the batteries while in-flight.

In the meantime, Boeing is redesigning the batteries as a temporary fix until a permanent solution is thought up. While a “temporary fix” might make some flyers queazy, Boeing notes that numerous tests will be run to make sure the redesigned batteries are in 100% working order before they put the planes back up in the air.

It doesn’t look like Boeing will be doing any test flights today, but it’s guaranteed that the company will be conducting numerous test flights over the next few weeks to get to the bottom of the issue. The battery problem has cost airlines tens of millions of dollars, and that number may continue to increase as long as the birds are left on the ground.

[via Reuters]

The battery redesign would minimize the risk of a meltdown happening, thus reducing the risk of a fire on board, which is what was suspected of happening in the past on the new planes. Again, it’s not Boeing’s permanent solution, but they say it’s the quickest way to get the planes back up in the air the safest way.

The redesigned batteries will have more space and separation between cells, and Boeing is also planning to add enhanced heat sensors. Plus, the company also plans to make the battery cells more rigid to keep them from moving around. We’re not sure if the cells were prone to moving around beforehand, but either way, it looks like Boeing is fully committed to using lithium-ion batteries in the 787, rather than nickel-cadmium batteries found in most other planes.

Boeing has hundreds of engineers and other experts working around the clock to resolve this issue, but there’s no word one when the new planes will be ready to fly again. The last we heard, investigations were going smoothly, but there was no rush to get the aircrafts back in service, so it could be a while before we see them in the air again.

[via WSJ]

Reuters reports that the investigations into the failed batteries are going well so far. Kelly Nantel, spokeswoman for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, says that “investigators are moving swiftly and we are making progress.” Authorities from the US, France, and Japan are all investigating into the matter.

However, according to Bloomberg, US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (who recently just stepped down from the position), says that investigators are “not feeling any pressure,” and mentioned that the team is “going to get this right,” meaning that they’re not taking any shortcuts whatsoever in order to get the planes back in the air.

However, this means that there’s no specific timeframe when Boeing and the FAA will have the 787 Dreamliners flying again. Tom Haueter, aviation investigations chief at the NTSB, said that the investigation could take years to complete, based on the complexity of the evidence found during the battery failures. In the meantime, airlines are making due without their new 787s in service, and you can bet that Boeing is paying dearly for this incident.

The new logo and livery will be introduced on the airline’s new and upcoming Boeing 777-300 airplanes at the end of the month, and have ordered hundreds of other new planes that will be delivered throughout the coming years. Many of the new planes will be made of composite materials to make them lighter. However, they must be painted over, making the iconic unpainted silver look of current AA planes no longer an option. Instead, though, the airline plans to paint them using silver mica paint that will at least maintain AA’s long-lasting heritage.

The new planes will features redesigned first- and business-class seats, and every seat on the new planes will feature all-new in-flight entertainment systems, as well as power outlets and WiFi access. The entertainment systems will feature a huge selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games.

Flight attendants will be equipped with Samsung Galaxy Note Tabs to better assist passengers, and pilots will be given iPads to “fly more efficiently” and to cut down on paper products to save on fuel costs. Gate agents at the airport will also be given mobile devices to help passengers check-in quicker by speeding up the boarding pass process and checking-in luggage.

[via Gizmodo]

After two fires caused my malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries were reported, the FAA has ordered all US airlines to ground their entire 787 fleet, and the administration also warned international airlines as well, and all of them have heeded the news and grounded their respective 787 Dreamliners.

The battery failures in question are said to possibly start a domino effect with on-board critical systems and structures, as well as the possibility of fire starting on board. The FAA has said that it’ll work with Boeing to come up with a plan to fix the issues and put the new aircrafts back in commission safely and quickly.

Currently, there are only six 787 Dreamliners in commission in the US, all which are operated by United Airlines. Furthermore, Japanese airlines operate 24 Dreamliners, with other international airlines operating 20 of the new planes. In total, there are 50 787 Dreamliners in operation, all of which have been grounded until further notice. United Airlines has said all passengers who were scheduled to fly on a 787 will be flying on different aircrafts for the time being.

[via WSJ]

Boeing must check that onboard wireless signals don’t interfere with navigation and communication systems, and in order to get the best possible results, they use what they cleverly call SPUDS (Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution) to help replicate how airborne signals are bounced and absorbed by real-life passengers, but without the need for Boeing to go out and find real people who will sit for hours on end.

Boeing spokesman Adam Tischler said that the sacks of potatoes accurately replicate the way human passengers reflect and absorb electronic signals. Furthermore, this strange method has dramatically shortened testing times for Boeing. What usually took two weeks now only takes a few hours, thanks to SPUDS.

It turns out that there are a lot of considerations for optimizing WiFi in an aircraft. The company explains how signal variations can shift dramatically even in a small area, and there’s also the difficult task of finding the best WiFi signal strength for passengers without interrupting critical communication systems in the cockpit.

[via LA Times]

Image via Flickr

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski write a letter to acting administrator of the FAA, Michael Huerta, calling on the administration to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights. In the letter, Genachowski also said that he would be willing to work with the FAA, airlines, and manufacturers to make his proposal a reality.

Genachowski’s reasoning is something that all passengers can agree with. He says that “mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives. They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness.” We certainly can’t argue with him on that, but the reason behind the electronics ban during flights is much deeper than what’s on the cover.

While you can still technically use electronics once the aircraft hits cruising altitude, usually you’re required to keep them in airplane mode unless the airline offers WiFi. However, it’s always been a strict rule that all electronics are supposed to be completely turned off during landing and takeoff. Hopefully the letter from Genachowski will help the FAA aim in the right direction.

[via The Hill]

Image via Flickr

The newest information here comes from – for the first time, mind you – the Air Force, Marine Corps, and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). These three Military branches have for the first time had their records shown to the public in all cases save for one. That one case is if these flights are only taking place inside their own “restricted airspace” – over their own military bases. Click the map below to see the live map via the EEF and Google Maps.

Across this map you’re going to be able to see drones of many types, with the Air Force testing cute little hand-launched Raven, Puma, and Wasp drones from Aerovironment on the short end. On the larger end you’ll find the scary types of drones, those being the Predator and Reaper drones you may have heard of flying missions overseas in live warzones.

Some of the lighter uses of drones you’ll be finding across the USA are straight from places like the University of Michigan where a “Flying Fish” drone can be found. This drone is made to float over open water for human tracking and is able to reposition itself through flight when it’s moved too far away from its original and intended spot. The U of Michigan also has a drone made to study “persistent solar-powered flight” and goes by the name YellowTale.

Have a peek up north in Minnesota and you’ll find two basic extremes, one of them being a flight that’s been cancelled due to “unacceptable risk” to the National Airspace System. The other you’ll find right near the border with North Dakota and is set for Customs & Border Protection – that one lists a Predator drone and an unknown drone, with the FAA not being especially clear on where the drones are being flown.

Keep your eye on the map and let us know if you find anything interesting as more information is added in the future!

[via The Verge]

Passengers aboard Boeing’s 747-8, massive 787 Dreamliner, and 777′s will soon be able to use their cell phones according to the company and CNET. Back in July when Boeing unveiled their new 787 Dreamliner they were showing off their Android-based entertainment systems on board — but apparently that wasn’t the only Android and smartphone usage they had in mind.

Here in the US however, the FAA has a ban in place that probably will never allow for such activity. So the uses for this new technology and improvements isn’t really known at this point. Whether other countries and officials will allow the use of cell phones is an entirely different situation. Yes we have on-flight WiFi, but making calls is another level.

Along with cell phone use, WiFi as usual, and more, Boeing also states they’ll have actual live TV, and even wireless media streaming by sometime in 2014. If you need to have a video conference while sky high — Boeing will have you covered. Many still think smartphone usage on planes is no big deal and of no security concern, just ask Alec Baldwin.

[via AndroidCommunity]

This is the second Waverider test flight to end in failure. During the first test of the aircraft in 2010, everything went according to plan, but in another test last year, a flaw caused the engines to shut down prematurely, which in turn sent the aircraft into the ocean. Now there’s only one X-51A left, and the LA Times says that the Air Force hasn’t decided when this last Waverider will fly.

During this particular test, the Waverider was dropped from 50,000 feet, free-falling for four seconds before the rocket it was attached to engaged. After being propelled by the rocket, the Waverider was supposed to break away and use its own engines to fly, but the control fin failure meant this didn’t happen. Instead of flying, the Waverider simply fell into the ocean. “It is unfortunate that a problem with this subsystem caused a termination before we could light the Scramjet engine,” said Air Force Research Laboratory program manager Charlie Brink, adding that all of the Air Force’s data showed that the team had the right conditions for a successful flight.

Unfortunately, failure is something you have to get used to if you’re testing hypersonic aircraft. We’ve been attempting hypersonic flight for decades now, and the number of failures is far greater than the number of successes. There is a ray of light to be found in that first Waverider test from 2010, however, so here’s hoping that the Air Force gets the results it’s looking for if it eventually tests this fourth and final Waverider aircraft.

In addition, Microsoft has also cancelled development of Project Columbia, an unannounced game that would have made use of the Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360. In a statement regarding the cancellations, Microsoft says, “Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to stop development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia, but we feel it will help us better align with our long-term goals and development plans. For Microsoft Flight,we will continue to support the community that has embraced the title and the game will still be available to download for free.”

As a result, 35 staff at Microsoft Vancouver have been laid off, but Microsoft claims its still committed to the area: “Microsoft Studios is invested in British Columbia and still has several teams, both in Vancouver and Victoria, which will continue to produce the best entertainment and gaming experiences possible.” Posts on Facebook and via employees on Twitter confirm that that layoffs have occurred.

[via Polygon]

What you’ve got here is a system of cables that allows the pilot to fly the system, and with this much more difficult than it looks amalgamation, a team of University of Maryland Students have broken the flight duration record by a whole heck of a lot. With the last record for such a system being 11.4 seconds (and incidentally set by the first version of this same vehicle), a massive 50 second flight this time around has solidly set this group of engineers in the history books.

The university’s school of engineering’s Alfred Gessow Rotocraft Center has been credited with the creation of the device, and the team is moving ever closer to the coveted Sikorsky Prize for just such a craft. The Sikorsky Prize is given by the American Helicopter Society and requires that a winning entry hover 10 feet off the ground for 60 seconds. The team responsible for the Gamera II will continue their quest for hitting those requirements throughout the summer (and possibly beyond). Have a peek at the 50-second test here:

Creating a craft such as this has its risks, one of which is drifting into a wall since the craft doesn’t have much in the way of directional control. We expect this team to break the record again very soon.

[via Discovery]

Leonard Nimoy was on hand this week to see the ship make its final berth, he having been one of the crew to be there when the ship was first christened back in 1976. Also on hand back then were the following (shown here as listed in the photo below): NASA Employee, DeForrest Kelly, George Takei, James Doohan (partly hidden, w/beard) Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, Gene Roddenberry, NASA employee, and Walter Koenig.

Speaking this week with CNN, Nimoy noted “It feels like a reunion.” CNN also spoke with several other Star Trek actors who were on hand back at the original showing of the ship. One of these was George Takei, the actor who played Lieutenant Sulu on the original Star Trek series, who spoke about how the ship originally got its name from a letter campaign initiated by Star Trek fans:

“It was amazing what they accomplished. The number of letters going to the White House was of tsunami proportions. [At the first event] they [(NASA)] had the Air Force band there. And they started playing the theme from ‘Star Trek.’ Out rolled this glistening craft with the word Enterprise painted on its side. It was a memory that I still cherish today.” – Takei

This ship will now be shown at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York starting soon and until further notice, this again just one of several shuttles from the program being planted in museums across the nation this year.

[via +NASA]

The Flight Sim Kit consists of a dedicated console built into a desk, designed to accommodate a single seat. It has all the controls that you would find in the cockpit of a Boeing 737, including a very intimidating throttle. After you buy the Kit you’ll need to hook up your own display along with flight sim software, and then you’ll be ready to take to the virtual skies.

As for the price, you can expect to pay CAD $3495.95 (~$3,553) for the basic kit, although the range extends all the way up to CAD $6995.95 (~$7,110). It’s a pretty sizeable installation too, so you’ll need plenty of room to accommodate it all. Check out the video of an impressive demo of the Kit, which includes several wraparound monitors designed to give the full immersive experience.

[via RedFerret]

Microsoft Flight is free to play on Steam, offering an experience similar to the traditional Flight Simulator games, but geared towards gamers instead of those curious about the mechanics and physics of flight. Additional content will cost you extra, though. That includes maps, plus additional planes.

The newest available content is the “Hawaiian Adventure Pack”, including all the terrain from that location, as well as the Vans RV-6, the Maule M-7-260C, and the North American P-51 Mustang planes. The pack costs $29.99. In addition, there’s a new plane that can be downloaded, the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero, which Microsoft say is “fast and agile”, ideal for “challenges requiring speed and high maneuverability.”

Microsoft will also show off the Alaskan Wilderness pack at PAX East 2012 at the Xbox booth starting from today until the 8th. The pack will be available later this summer, and Microsoft promise more content for Flight in the future.

How big, exactly? 45-feet long with a 24-foot wingspan, and the whole thing weighing around 800 pounds. The team at the Pima Air & Space Museum were inspired to build the plane after a 12-year old Tuscon boy won a local paper airplane competition, with his creation reaching the greatest distance before plummeting to the ground.

Naturally, it took more than a simple flick of the wrist to launch this particular plane. It was moved into the Arizona desert, then hoisted into the air by a helicopter before being released. The plane managed to reach an altitude of 2,703 feet, and top speed hit 98 miles per hour.

Want to see the behemoth take flight? Check out the video below.

[via Ubergizmo]

In a press release yesterday they’ve stated that the expansion will start with their Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircrafts, as well as its Embraer 190s and some US Airways Express planes. The expansion and rollout should be starting early this summer and they expect in-flight WiFi to be offered on 90% of all domestic fleets by the end of the year, and every US Airways flight by the end of 2013.

The expansion is said to be using Gogo’s latest air-to-ground technology, ATG-4, which offers the best data speeds and rates, that are much faster than previous offerings. Frequent fliers will be able to use the Gogo WiFi app on their Android smartphones and tablets, as well as the iPhone, iPad, and all the other capable devices. While rates still aren’t the best, and most likely the cause for in-flight WiFi’s slow adoption, we expect prices to start falling as more and more offer the service.

Words with Friends mile high club anyone?

[via PR Newswire]

A very thorough sting operation from Wired, however, showed that pretty much all of that information was fabricated. Smeets’s LinkedIn profile showed that he worked at Pailton Steering Systems, an engineering firm. But Wired contacted the company and got a confused reply with no one there able to confirm the employment of anyone named Jarno Smeets. Other alleged employers were also contacted but did not respond.

Smeets also claimed to have attended school at Coventry University. Wired reached out to that institution as well, and could not find anyone matching the name given. In addition, repeated attempts to reach Smeets directly were unsuccessful. So in other words, the video is really nothing more than something like the movie Super 8 or District 9 or any other film designed to look like it was shot with a home video camera.

[via Wired]

A sonic boom is created when air starts to build up at the front of the plane, and when it hits supersonic speeds, the increase in air pressure creates two shock waves, creating the sonic boom. Original calculations by German engineer Adolf Busemann found that by employing a triangular wing design instead, the sonic boom can be cancelled out. The problem there is that the design creates a very narrow feed through which air can flow, which results in no lift. So while the design works well at supersonic speeds, it would never be able to overcome the drag to get to that point.

Researchers at MIT and Standford ran computer simulations to find the best shape at different speeds, correlating all the information to find the perfect shape for each wing. Eventually they found a design that not only could achieve the necessary supersonic speeds, but reduce drag by 50% over the Concorde, requiring less fuel to boot.

The design isn’t final, though, as a 3D model needs to be created to test other attibutes that may be affected during flight. Ultimately the design may lead to the creation of a supersonic plane that would be far cheaper, and also able to fly over land.

[via PhysOrg]

“Since we launched Flight Search, we’ve heard from many globetrotters eager to use the feature to search for destinations outside the U.S. Starting today, you can find flights, including international destinations, from the U.S. quickly and conveniently,” Google said in an official blog post. The company has gained some enemies in the market of traditional flight search engines.

Travel sites reportedly rely on Google for nearly 20% of their traffic, and sites like Kayak – which also links users directly to airline websites – are most directly affected. For the airlines, though, it’s a great deal. Google claims the new flight search tool is due in part to advertising money paid by the airlines, which fits in with its policy of sponsored results showing up above organic results.

[via VentureBeat]

When you download this game, you’ll find that in its completely free form, you’ll be given Hawaii as a map to fly around in. When you’re connected with Games for Windows Live, you get extra features. You can also get extra features by downloading them via Microsoft’s online store, this falling right in line with our most awesome futuristic gaming model born of this mobile revolution we’re in: free to play and in-game upgrade. Freemium is another name for this model, and Microsoft will be more than willing to tease you with the most awesome flying around with a promise of more on the way.

So clear the end of your February calendar out because you’ll be doing two things: first, playing Microsoft Flight, then second: following SlashGear’s Mobile World Congress 2012 coverage. You know you’ll love both, they’re both free! Have a peek above at a trailer for the newest installment in what’s up until now been called Flight Simulator X, then head to our portal for the rest. You can follow us all through Spain while you’re flying in Hawaii via our tag [MWC 2012] – seeya then!

[via Major Nelson]

This device is controlled with a couple of knobs on a relatively standard control unit and communicates wirelessly as you fly it through the sky in an impressive display of flapping, turning, and flapping some more. The newest version of this original Park Hawk will run you right around $289 if you want one right this second. You’ve also for one whole heck of a lot of other options from stores like Flapping Flight if you’re in the mood for some different models – like the Big Lazy Hawk whose wingspan is longer than a small child.

This bird is controlled with its rudder (it’s tail feather) and is able to both flap and glide. This means that if you toss it down into the Grand Canyon (and it doesn’t hit a rock right away) you’ll be able to mozy on down lazily the whole way with just a bit of flapping as you go. Seem like a good time to you? Maybe we’re all long overdue for some awesome remote controlled action, what do you think?

BONUS: time for some record-breaking rubber-band ornithopter action next!

[via Lusko]

The basic game will include just one area, the Hawaii map, when it’s downloaded. Connect it with a Games for Windows Live account and you get extra maps, planes, missions and social features. Add-ons for the game will be sold on Microsoft’s online store, just as many high-profile games have been doing for years. Considering that many of the most dedicated Flight Simulator fans spend hundreds or thousands on elaborate gaming PCs and realistic joystick controllers, they probably won’t bat an eye paying whatever the game publisher asks.

The approach is not a new one, but in the last few months its become increasingly popular. Team Fortress 2, one of the most-played PC games in the world, is now completely free. Publisher Valve still rakes in millions of dollars selling virtual weapons, tools and outfits in the game’s built-in store. Online RPGs like Star Trek Online seem to be shifting to the fremium model en masse, though it should be said that more established MMORPGs like World of Warcraft continue to charge a monthly fee.

There’s still no concrete release date for Microsoft Flight, though a closed beta program is active. The final release is scheduled for sometime this spring.

The new WolframAlpha flight search service that has just launched. If you see a big jet shining in the air above you at 36,000 feet you can ask WolframAlpha what flights are overhead. The search engine will use your location and tell you literally what flight that plane you see overhead is. If there are multiple flights in your area, it will give details on all of them.

The cool part is that it can tell you what altitude the flight is at and at what angle the plane is from you so you can find it. It also has details on the flights that show the type of plane along with the airline and flight number. The new “flights overhead” search query works on the desktop version of the WolframAlpha search and on the desktop version. This is the perfect thing for those “daddy, where is that airplane going” questions my daughter asks me each time we see a jet in the air.

[via Searchengineland]

United Continental Holdings has selected the Global Communications Suite from Panasonic Avionics Corporation for the job. The Panasonic system will be installed on the Airbus 319 and 320 as well as the Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787 aircrafts. This will allow passengers to connect their wireless devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets to the internet via the onboard hotspot.

Airlines are really stepping it up now with the connectivity. Japan Airlines recently announced adding in-flight WiFi on its US and European routes, while American Airlines is even replacing in-flight screens with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Continental has also previously revealed that it would be installing satellite-based WiFi on its more than 200 DirecTV-equipped aircrafts starting in 2012.

[via Engadget]

One woman was found in or around the crashed vehicle having passed some time in or near the initial crash, while two female passengers were taken to a nearby hospital, one in cardiac arrest, the other in respiratory arrest, while one other man was taken to another nearby hospital with unknown conditions. I must comment at this point that normally SlashGear wouldn’t report on subject matter such as this, but in this case there may be friends or relatives of those in the vehicle that could be helped by this information – or at least your humble narrator feels this way, anyway.

The type of helicopter that hit the river and sunk was a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, one of the world’s most popular helicopter models at the moment, first flown in January of 1966. These helicopters are known for their lightness and their maneuverability and are often used by Air Taxi services as well as television stations. The river is currently closed to commercial boating traffic.

[via CBS News]

The little sheet of conductive plastic measures 4-inches and is driven by the so-called “ripple power” waves created from an electrical current driving little pockets of air underneath. The air pushes the flying carpet along at a pace of a centimeter per second. The researcher thinks that the speed can be increased to as much as a meter per second in the future.

One thing that the researchers had to focus on was a way to control the behavior of the sheet as it deformed at high frequencies, which was eventually overcome. The team says that the sheet has more in common with hovercraft than an airplane since it has to keep close to the ground. This is because the source of the thrust to move the aircraft forward comes from the air bouncing back from the carpet to the ground.

[via BBC News]

We wrote about this impressive tip of arrow looking glider yesterday and expressed excitement over its second launch. The first time this project was tested, the ship crashed into the ocean and could not be recovered. As this launch had the possibility of being the final test of the plane because of the budget crunch hitting the Pentagon, those hoping for the success of this piece of technology are likely digging their fingernails into their kneecaps at the moment.

If the project can be salvaged at this point, and if the project is able to move forward, the HTV-X, or whatever it’s called at the time, will aim at reaching anywhere in the world in less than an hour to deliver bombs to targets specified by the US Military. Furthermore, if the plane were to, theoretically, need to travel from Los Angeles to New York to hit a target, it could do so in less than 12 minutes.

Analysts are apparently saying that this method of destroying targets is far superior to launching ballistic missiles as at the moment missiles still travel predictable paths while a hypersonic vehicle like the HTV-2 can manuver in many ways. Analysts also note that this plane would not be mistaken for a nuclear missile, thus supposedly avoiding the possibility of triggering a nuclear confrontation.

The HTV-2 was launched for a test-run today a hypersonic vehicle launched by the military has “a long way to go” before deployment, so says Loren Thompson, analyst at the Lexington Institute with links to the defense industry. The launch today had the HTV-2 separate from its carrier rocket, perform some maneuvers, then contact was list. The test flight plan called for the HTV-2 Falcon to roll and dive into the Pacific Ocean, and by the sounds of it, at least the last part of the plan will take place one way or another.

UPDATE: DARPA has released a statement on today’s launch:

“Here’s what we know,” said Air Force Maj. Chris Schulz, DARPA HTV-2 program manager and PhD in aerospace engineering. “We know how to boost the aircraft to near space. We know how to insert the aircraft into atmospheric hypersonic flight. We do not yet know how to achieve the desired control during the aerodynamic phase of flight. It’s vexing; I’m confident there is a solution. We have to find it.”

“Prior to flight, the technical team completed the most sophisticated simulations and extensive wind tunnel tests possible. But these ground tests have not yielded the necessary knowledge. Filling the gaps in our understanding of hypersonic flight in this demanding regime requires that we be willing to fly,” said DARPA Director Regina Dugan. “In the April 2010 test, we obtained four times the amount of data previously available at these speeds. Today more than 20 air, land, sea and space data collection systems were operational. We’ll learn. We’ll try again. That’s what it takes.”

[via AFP]