Hasta La Ideas

News: a British firm has unveiled the world’s longest aircraft – a hybrid of airship, plane and helicopter that can stay airborne for up to three weeks.

The 91-metre airship developed by British company Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is filled with inert helium. The developers believe the hybrid vehicle could help air travel become more efficient, as the craft uses less fuel, and less intrusive because it’s quieter.

The aircraft can stay airborne for up to three weeks and could be used to deliver tons of freight across difficult terrain, helping deliver humanitarian aid to places that are inaccessible by road or rail.

Another possible application is for communication networks and monitoring of sports events, or observation for military use. Instead of helicopters, which generate noise and can only remain airborne for a limited period of time, the hybrid aircraft could be used to monitor areas without the need to be refuelled.

The company claims the aircraft could also be converted into a luxury transporter with features like an infinity pool, and used for activities like whale watching and safaris because it can quietly hover overhead without disturbing the animals.

“Maybe one day it will be the case that people get the Orient Express one way and a hybrid aircraft on the way back,” said Chris Daniels, head of partnerships and communications at HAV.

The craft costs £30 million to manufacture, and is currently scheduled to be used for communications. It’s on display in hangar in Bedfordshire and is due to fly in the UK later this year.

HAV plans to make between 600 and 1000 of the airships in future, and is currently exploring larger versions, including a 119-metre long, 60-metre wide, and 35-metre high version that could have two hovercraft type vehicles attached allowing the airship to land on water. This would be able to carry up to 50 tonnes of freight and passengers while only burning a quarter of the fuel of a plane.

The news comes in the same week Facebook announced it’s in discussions to acquire Titan Aerospace, a manufacturer of solar-powered drones that can fly for up to five years without needing to land. The acquisition is believed to be part of Facebook’s plans to help connect the five billion people who currently do not have access to the internet by using the airborne drones to create a network in remote areas.

Google has also entered the aerospace industry with its own enterprise called Project Loon. The initiative has similar aims to Facebook’s, but uses high-altitude weather balloons to bring internet access to remote areas.

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from airships, planes and helicopters appeared first on Dezeen.

News: a fighter jet incorporating 3D-printed parts has successfully completed a test flight, making it the first combat aircraft produced using additive manufacturing.

Defence contractor BAE Systems announced yesterday that the Tornado aircraft fitted with components printed at a Royal Air Force base completed a successful test flight from the company’s airfield at Warton in Lancashire, UK, last month.

The firm’s combat engineering team is now using 3D printing to design and produce ready-made parts for four squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft at RAF Marham, a Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, UK. Components include protective covers for cockpit radios, support struts on the air intake door and protective guards for power take-off shafts.

They estimate that use of the technology will cut the cost of repairs, maintenance and service to the Royal Air Force by more than £1.2 million over the next four years, but also paves the way for using 3D printed parts in other military equipment.

“You are suddenly not fixed in terms of where you have to manufacture these things,” said Mike Murray, head of airframe integration at BAE Systems. “You can manufacture the products at whatever base you want, providing you can get a machine there, which means you can also start to support other platforms such as ships and aircraft carriers.”

“If it’s feasible to get machines out on the front line, it also gives improved capability where we wouldn’t traditionally have any manufacturing support,” he added.

The US military has been developing its own 3D printers for the frontline for some time, enabling soldiers to quickly and cheaply produce spare parts for their weapons and equipment, while NASA is developing an orbiting factory that will use 3D printing and robots to fabricate giant structures such as antennas and solar arrays in space.

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completes test flight appeared first on Dezeen.

The tongue-in-cheek livery of South African airline Kulula includes a “This way up” sign on one plane and points out the locations of key components on another (+ slideshow).

Kulula‘s lime green Flying 101 aeroplane is covered in text explaining what each of its parts is called and white arrows pointing to where they are located.

The titles of the aircraft parts are accompanied by comical comments written beside them in brackets.

“This plane was designed in-house by our graphic design team as part of our bigger strategy to demystify air travel and explain some of the unknowns around air travel and flying,” the airline commented.

Seats adjacent to the emergency exits are highlighted as the “throne zone” due to their extra leg room and the plane’s registration number is dubbed its “secret agent code”.

Features not visible from the outside such as seats, overhead compartments and toilets (noted as “mile high club initiation chambers”) are marked out in dotted lines.

The graphics were designed for Kulula in 2010, along with a design for a Boeing 737 that has a “this way up” graphic painted in green along the side of the white plane.

We’ve previously featured Mariomekko’s floral designs for the livery of two Finnair aeroplanes and American Airlines’ latest logo design.

See more aircraft design »
See more graphic design »

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livery appeared first on Dezeen.

The MKS-1 SLS concept was designed primarily as a launch-support for space rockets & suborbital vehicles, helping them reach their destination by first carrying them closer to the edge of our atmosphere. Adaptable guide-rails above the fuselage are configurable to a variety of different payloads, including pods for space tourism. Together, 11 next-gen engines, 8 ultra high-bypass turbofan engines, & 3 engines with adaptive versatile engine technology ensure precious cargo safely arrives at an altitude of 50k feet before 2nd launch.

The MKS-1 SLS would have an auto-generator electric energy system from heat energy conversion and from combustion of liquefied natural gas (also used for turbofan engines mixed with conventional combustible) to keep the avionic systems and the rocket’s combustible temperature in optimal conditions. It also would have a “hyper-lift” mechanical system to create a dynamic air flow controlled by a fly-by-wire system and on-board computers to prevent a possible stall situation.
The MKS is also built with advanced composite materials such as carbon laminate, carbon sandwich, activated carbon, aluminum, and titanium that are stress and fatigue resistant. Where it counts, low density sections on the exterior of the plane have extra capacity to resist the highest temperatures.

Designer: Oscar Viñals

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Spacecraft Carrier was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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With the brand’s deep roots stemming from aircraft design, who better to design Singapore Airlines’ First Class interior than the BMW Group Designworks USA?! To bring a premium experience to the airline, the designers have endowed the cabin with a new look along with an extra helping of comfort, space and privacy. The updated design for the seats and suites will make its debut this September on board the new Boeing 777-300ER on selected flights between Singapore and London. 

One of the top echelons of the design sector came up with a keen challenge for DesignworksUSA: to reconcile the aviation brief and its stringent safety standards with the luxury requirements of passengers. Tapping into the creativity of the BMW Group subsidiary, Singapore Airlines aimed to further enhance its First Class facilities and set new benchmarks for luxury-class comfort in the skies. The entire ambience has been redesigned to offer passengers not only raised luxury levels but also greater privacy and increased stowage space for luggage and travel accoutrements

From the moment they board the aircraft, First Class passengers are pampered in their lounge-like islands. In order to shield these havens of peace visually and acoustically, the outer walls of the seating area have been extended and embrace the passenger like a protective arm. For sleeping, the luxury seat turns into a large bed comfortable enough for reclining on one’s side. At 35 inches in width and with an increased bed length from 80 to 82 inches, the seat is one of the most spacious First Class products in the sky. Both the design language and the colour and material concept signal maximum levels of comfort, taking their cue from automotive interior design when it comes to passenger comfort, spatial configuration and functionality. The design team has imbued these onboard spaces with an aura of tranquillity. Large surfaces and elegantly sweeping lines coupled with warm, modern shades of brown within the seating islands all evoke the ambience of a living room. Cooler grey and metallic tones on the outside, meanwhile, clearly demarcate the private zone from its surroundings – a colour concept that continues into the carpeting to accentuate the impression of a personal cocoon.

Only high-grade materials are permitted to fly First Class. The seat is lined with fine leather, while a new covering technique for the upholstery increases tension in the material, which remains smooth and – even after hours of use – appears pristine. Atmospheric lighting has been discreetly assimilated into the design. Extensive tests were carried out to determine the optimal light colour and intensity. A range of personal storage cubbies in the front entertainment area add surprising touches with their striking interior colours. Elegant tables are integrated into the front of the seating area; they can be extended simply and quietly without the need for any folding mechanism.

Designer: BMW Designworks USA for Singapore Airlines

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Luxury Atmosphere in the Stratosphere was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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