These planes were developed for millions of dollars
The dream of flying has always occupied mankind. After the breakthrough of aircraft construction, it became possible for most people to fly from one continent to another in just a few hours. But the possibilities are far from exhausted. Inventors are constantly working on new creations to make flying faster and safer. As in the early days, it’s still hard work for aircraft manufacturers to find the perfect size, speed and design for a plane. If they succeed, the project can take humanity to the next phase of flight. We’d now like to introduce you to some of the future projects we hope to be able to test ourselves. Whether it’s a futuristic suborbital aircraft capable of flying at over 24,000 km/h or a giant all-electric plane that can also be used as a hotel, each model finds its place in the inventors’ visions of the future.
These planes were developed for several million dollars
Zunum’s hybrid-electric aircraft
Manufacturer: Zunum Aero Special feature: hybrid Estimated production cost: > 4 million euros* Many commuters travel within the USA every day. However, it’s not always an easy task for airlines to transport customers between small towns. Zunum Aero was founded in 2013 and, with the help of Boeing’s JetBlue technology, has developed an aircraft that would make commuting easier. The hybrid aircraft should be able to fly up to 1100 km and leave a smaller ecological footprint. However, following the aircraft manufacturer’s liquidation in 2019, the project unfortunately failed to materialize
Zunum’s hybrid-electric aircraft
The AW609
Manufacturer: Leonardo S.p.A: Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly AgustaWestland) Special feature: tilt-rotor technology Estimated production cost: unknown This aircraft has been designed to combine the speed of a turboprop with the takeoff and landing characteristics of a helicopter. Leonardo S.p.A.’s AW609 tilt-rotor has been designed for civil applications. Prototype testing began in 2002, and it will be a long time before the aircraft is certified. In fact, the first demonstration flights with the first customers began in 2014, reaching speeds of 540 km/h and heights of 9000 m.
The AW609
Boeing’s Blended Wing Body Airlifter
Manufacturer: Boeing Boeing Special feature: Blended Wing Estimated production cost: Unknown When designing an airplane, developers are often inspired by nature. For many years, airplanes were designed to mimic birds in the sky. But for the Blended Wing Body Airlifter, Boeing’s developers took their inspiration from birds in the depths of the sea. The Blended Wing Body (BWB) airplane is still in its conceptual phase, and could have come out of a science-fiction movie. The aerodynamics are certainly new and advantageous, providing additional lift
Boeing Blended Wing Body Airlifter
787-9 Dreamliner aircraft
Manufacturer: Boeing Boeing Special feature: longer non-stop flights Estimated production cost: 145 million euros* (2018) The Boeing 787 wide-body jet is known as a “Dreamleiner”, and each new model is destined to be even bigger and better. The latest model, the 787-9, has a range of 14,000 kilometers and a cruising speed of around 900 km/h. The company always strives to offer its customers the best possible service. For example, it can carry around 280 passengers on a 17-hour non-stop flight between Perth, Australia, and London, England. Sc name=”top-ad”]
787-9 Dreamliner aircraft
Concorde
Manufacturer: British Aircraft Corporation & Sud Aviation Special feature: supersonic speed Estimated production cost: 25 million euros* (1971) The legendary aircraft made its first test flight in 1969. Officially used from 1976, it was the first supersonic passenger aircraft. The Concord could carry 92 or 128 passengers at a speed of 2166 km/h above the clouds. Of course, this speed also came at a price. For example, a round-trip ticket between New York and London cost 8,000 euros in 1997, which, converted to 2021, would be around 13,000 euros. Service of this legendary model was discontinued in 2003
Concorde
The Spaceliner
Manufacturer: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt Special feature: sub-orbital travel Estimated production cost: €33 billion* In January 2021, it wasn’t Back Jeff Bezos’ “Blue Origin”, or Richard Branson’s “Unity 22”, but another model that was space tourism. The German aerospace center wanted to get passengers to their destinations faster, thanks to suborbital travel. To achieve this, eleven liquid rocket engines are used, which are reusable. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 24,000 km/h. A trip from Los Angeles to London would therefore take just one hour
The Spaceliner
Aerion AS2
Manufacturer: Aerion Aerion Special feature: supersonic capability Estimated production cost: 120 million euros* Those who can afford to fly with a private jet will be delighted to learn that production of the Aerion AS2 began in 2023. Also known as the son of the Concord, this model can fly a distance of 6720 km at a speed of 1.4 Mach. Thanks to GE engines, CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 85%. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2026. 8 to 10 passengers will then be able to fly from New York to London in four and a half hours with this special aircraft
Aerion AS2
Boom Supersonic
Manufacturer: Boom Special feature: reaches Mach 2.2 Estimated production cost: €200 million The legendary Concord was a Franco-British supersonic cat that last flew in 2003. So it’s been two decades since there was a supersonic passenger aircraft. However, a start-up in the war wanted to change that, and we’ll be bringing the “Overture” to market by 2026. The engines would be developed by Rolls-Royce and 55 passengers could then be carried above the clouds at a speed of 2.2 km/h. This would cut current flight times in half
Boom Supersonic
A220-500
Manufacturer: Airbus Airbus Distinctive feature: more space Estimated production cost: <€91.5 million* At Airbus, there have also been some important innovations recently. In the Airbus A220-500, five passengers can sit in a row, but they have plenty of room. The old 130-passenger model was much smaller, but the new Airbus can carry 20 more passengers. In addition, the aircraft also features a larger luggage compartment and two windows per row, which will certainly please those who like to look out of the window while flying.
A220-500
Le Vahana
Manufacturer: Airbus Airbus Special feature: self-piloting Estimated production cost: unknown The Vahana urban transport aircraft can move vertically up and down. So commuters could have the option of flying from building to building. It looks really good and could soon become a reality. The plane is powered by eight electric motors and can also fly completely autonomously. Thanks to intelligent sensors, the aircraft can be maneuvered seamlessly in the sky. This new Airbus could have a range of 45 km and a cruising speed of almost 190 km/h.
The Vahana
CityAirbus
Manufacturer: Airbus Airbus Special feature: self-piloting Estimated production cost: unknown In recent years, Airbus has worked very hard to develop a few commercial aircraft and, after a great deal of research and development, has built several small demonstration aircraft. These are intended to take tilting traffic out of the road and into the air. The concept is called CityAirbus, which could fly over the city at speeds of up to 120 km/h. It’s an all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, equipped with eight electric motors, like the Vahana, but for four passengers instead of one.
CityAirbus
Alice Commuter by Eviation
Manufacturer: Eviation Special feature: fully electric Estimated production cost: 4 million euros* Like Aero, Eviation’s Alice Commuter is also a hybrid-electric aircraft. It was created by Israeli start-up Eviation. It would be particularly advantageous for travelers to be able to make better use of smaller airports. With Alice, nine people could be transported comfortably, and the costs and inconveniences of large airports could be reduced. The electric passenger plane has a cruising speed of over 400 km/h and a range of 800 km, and is the world’s first all-electric commuter plane
Alice Commuter from Eviation
NASA X-57 Maxwell
Manufacturer: NASA NASA Special feature: all-electric Estimated production cost: unknown This 800 million euro project was developed by NASA with the aim of building more environmentally-friendly electric aircraft. The first prototypes in the program are called “New Aviation Horizons” and X-57 (or Maxwell), which is fully electric. The X-57 has 14 electric motors, which are used for take-off and landing. In addition, the aircraft has external motors that can be accelerated to speeds of up to 280 km/h. The aircraft’s fuel consumption is also around 30% lower than other models
NASA X-57 Maxwell
Pipistrel Alpha electric
Manufacturer: Pipistrel Pipistrel Special feature: electric propulsion Estimated production cost: €93,600* The Alpha Elektro two-seater comes from Polish manufacturer Pipistrel, which was the first to switch to electric propulsion for its aircraft. The engine features a water cooler, which means that electricity costs would be around 10% of those of a gasoline-powered model. With 150-kilo LiPo batteries, the plane can stay aloft for up to 60 minutes. However, if you want to be in the air quickly, you can replace it in just 5 minutes. This makes the model the first and only commercially available electric aircraft
Pipistrel Alpha Elektro
Wright Electric
Manufacturer: Wright Electric Special feature: Electrically powered Estimated production cost: Unknown Wright Electric was founded in 2006 in America with the aim of revolutionizing air transport. In collaboration with EasyJet, they are working on an all-electronic aircraft that can carry up to 186 passengers at a time over a distance of up to 480 km. The Wright 1 was launched in 2021, and in autumn of the same year was already presented with a new 2700 hp electric motor. Range has now been increased to 1440 km. The first test flights are scheduled for 2023
Wright Electric
Boeing 777X
Manufacturer: Boeing Boeing Special feature: folding wing Estimated production cost: €442.2 million* The latest Dreamleiner in Boeing’s fleet is called the 777X. It is larger and more luxurious than its predecessors. The multi-class aircraft has two aisles and a large fuselage. For passengers’ belongings, there is also much more space in this aircraft than in its predecessors. An absolute novelty is the aircraft’s folding wing, which can fold to a 90° angle. The last Dreamliner is scheduled to start flying in 2022
Boeing 777X
Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning II stealth fighter
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin Special feature: helmet-mounted display system Estimated production cost: 80 million US dollars* The new F35 Lightning II single-engine multirole fighter was developed by Lockheed Martin. It was designed for ground attack and air superiority missions, and the program ultimately cost around US$1.7 trillion. It was thus the most expensive air weapons program in history. However, due to the high cost, research and construction work was delayed. The spectacular aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which contributes to its speed and manoeuvrability, making it highly versatile in combat situations, so the costs were not ultimately in vain.
Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning II stealth fighter
The Bullet
Manufacturer: Otto Aviation Otto Aviation Special feature: aerodynamics Estimated production cost: 5 million euros* The Celera 500L or “Bullet” features a vehicle with this engine. What’s striking is not only the rounded curves that contribute to the machine’s Eurodynamic design. It also helps reduce fuel consumption. The aircraft seats six passengers and can be operated in 1 hour for almost 6.5 times less than a similar business jet. The Bullet has reached a top speed of around 400 km/h, as opposed to the 740 km/h planned. It will probably be a few years before the Celera 500L comes to market
The Bullet
Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW)
Manufacturer: Boeing Boeing Special feature: Truss-Braced Wing Estimated production cost: Unknown NASA and Boeing have been working together on this project for almost ten years. Collaboration on the SUGAR (Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research) program recently culminated in the development of the Truss-Braced Transonic wing concept. Initial plans called for the aircraft to fly at speeds of up to 0.75 Mach. Foldable wings measuring 51.5 meters in length were used, enabling speeds of up to 0.80 Mach to be achieved. This makes the TTBW aircraft concept the fastest and highest in its class
Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW)
ZerO
Manufacturer: HerO HerO Special feature: no emissions Estimated production cost: Unknown Designing an aircraft is certainly no easy task. Joe Doucet, as a graduate of the Arts Center College of Design, had the opportunity to do just that. He created the concept for a zero-emission HerO airplane. The plane is powered by batteries instead of fuel, which is why it’s also known as the Tesla of the air. The batteries are located at the rear of the aircraft. However, the design slows the aircraft down by around 20%, but the extra flight time costs little in the way of money or emotion
ZerO
Flying-V
Manufacturer: KLM & TU Delft Special features: Unique shape Estimated production cost: Unknown After many years of research and construction, the Flying-V model finally took off in 2020. Justus Benad, a graduate of the Technical University of Delft, designed the aircraft. This aircraft is unique in that the wing also contains the cargo hold, fuel tanks and passenger cabin. The special V-shape not only contributes to the aircraft’s aerodynamics, but also improves fuel consumption by 20%
Flying-V
EADS VoltAir
Manufacturer: VoltAir VoltAir Special feature: Fully electric Estimated production cost: Unknown Expectations of the aircraft being developed today are very high indeed. Some of them should not only be capable of enormous speeds and distances, but also of carrying several hundred people at a time. Although EADS’ VoltAir is still in its conceptual phase, it already shows great promise. The environmentally-friendly aircraft is expected to seat 50 to 60 passengers. Completion is expected around 2035. At the rear of the aircraft is a lithium-air battery pack that can be exchanged and recharged
EADS VoltAir
Aquatic Jet
Manufacturer: Unknown Special feature: takes off and lands on water Estimated production cost: Unknown For many, developing aircraft that make it easier to reach coastal cities is a source of motivation. This is the case in Norway, for example, so it’s not surprising that Norwegian Tomas Brødreskift has developed the concept of an aquatic jet. However, the SeaSTOL VLJ (Sea Short Take-Off and Landing Very Light Jet) can reach altitudes similar to those of other light jets. The cabin should accommodate 5-8 people. Thanks to the use of wheels, the aircraft can also land smoothly on the ground
Aquatic Jet
The Progress Eagle
Manufacturer: AWWA AWWA Special feature: own power supply system Estimated production cost: unknown Progress Eagle was designed by Oscar Viñals and is ready for commercial air transport in 2030. It is said that this machine can soar through the air with zero static pollutant emissions. What’s more, the situation is different when it comes to noise pollution. The Eagle’s roof, wings and stern are fitted with quantum solar cells. The aircraft is expected to be three storeys high and 95 metres long. With its 6 hydrogen-powered engines, the Eagle can carry over 800 passengers per flight
The Progress Eagle
Airbus A321XLR
Manufacturer: Airbus Airbus Special feature: longer range Estimated production cost: 130 million euros* Like the other aircraft in the Airbus A321 family, the XLR is a narrow-body passenger aircraft. However, this model seems to be simply on “steroids” compared with its predecessors. The new range is between 8,300 and 8,800 kilometers, and the maximum flight time is around 10 hours. This means it can stay in the air for around twice as long as its predecessors. This greater range is made possible by a third fuel tank. According to the manufacturer, this model can reduce fuel consumption by 30%
Airbus A321XLR
AirQuadOne
Manufacturer: Neva Aerospace Special feature: personal aircraft Estimated production cost: Unknown Thanks to the cooperation of five European companies, the future of electric aviation has been shaped. British company Neva Aerospace has already built numerous products, from robotic platforms to electric drones. Their latest product is the first AirQuadOne, which is capable of vertical take-off and landing. It can fly at a speed of around 56 km/h and cover a distance of 40 km. It is powered by a four-fan system and can also deliver goods. Charging is as easy as charging an electric car
AirQuadOne
Boxwing Jet
Production company: NASA, private industry Special feature: environmentally friendly Estimated production cost: 12% lower costs than traditional aircraft The Boxwing Jet is a fairly modern design. This model is not a new aircraft per se, but fuel consumption is clearly reduced with this jet. Specifically, it meets the requirement for a 75% reduction in pollutant emissions. NOx emissions can even be reduced by 90%. According to the manufacturer, the first Boxwing jet should be on the market in 2035. We can assume that NASA will receive a great deal of support for its development of this boxwing jet.
Boxwing Jet
Green supersonic aircraft
Production company: Lockheed Martin Special feature: no supersonic bang Estimated production cost: 200 million euros per unit* For today’s sustainability requirements, this green supersonic aircraft will certainly meet them. The design was produced by Lockheed Martin, and the project is still at the draft stage. The first drafts were presented to NASA in 2010 and, according to experts, the first examples of this aircraft could be put into production as early as 2035. The manufacturers have demonstrated in a number of simulations how the Green Supersonic achieves supersonic speed while eliminating the noisy bang that this causes
Supersonic green aircraft
VTOL
Production company: Bell Special feature: high-speed VTOL aircraft Estimated production cost: 100 to 150 million euros per aircraft* Today, in addition to helicopters, we see two VTOL aircraft: the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The special feature of a VTOL aircraft is that it can glide, take off vertically and also land, all without the need for a runway. The Werle company recently presented a new type of aircraft featuring a folding rotor. These enable the plane to move at cat-like speed. This new technology is called HSVTOL – High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
VTOL
Wright1
Production company: Wright Electric Special features: zero-emission passenger aircraft Estimated production cost: Unknown The Wright1 was to be an ecologically revolutionary aircraft. The name, of course, recalls the aircraft’s inventor. The Wright Electric company developed the simple aircraft for airlines wishing to fly a maximum of 800 miles. What’s sensational about this plane is not the fact that it can lift 186 passengers into the air, but the fact that it produces no emissions and no noise, and also consumes less fuel. The jet is, of course, one of a kind, and the designers hope it can be produced quickly
Wright1
Airbus ZEROe
Production company: Airbus Special features: zero-emission commercial aircraft Estimated production cost: Unknown The ZEROe is a concept aircraft for the moment, but it makes a major contribution to the development of aircraft capable of zero-emission flight. Airbus has so far presented three concepts that are expected to be the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft. The company hopes to start production in 2030. The energy source for this particular aircraft is hydrogen, as it is much cleaner and more environmentally friendly than other fuels. The production of this aircraft will help meet a number of climate objectives
Airbus ZEROe
Concorde Redux
Production company: United, Boom Distinguishing feature: Concorde more environmentally friendly and economically more profitable Estimated production cost: Unknown Several years have passed since the legendary Concord last flew. It was mainly affluent passengers who could afford to travel at altitudes of over 55,000 feet at Mach 2 speeds. In 1996, the legendary aircraft set a world record after flying from New York to London in just 3 hours. It stopped flying in 2003, but the Concord Redux could offer a more eco-friendly version
Concorde Redux
Pak Ta
Production company: Ilyushin Special feature: 80-ton cargo capacity Estimated production cost: 3.35 million euros per unit* The Russian military transport aircraft moves on to the next generation with the Pak Ta, or Ilyushin Il-106 Slon. The special feature of this machine is that it can be refueled in flight, and can carry up to 80 tons of cargo over several thousand kilometers. Powered by four PD-35 engines from Aviadvigatel, which are still under development, this machine is very promising. The research phase ended in December 2020, so the project is now in the construction phase. First flight is scheduled between 2024 and 2026
Pak Ta
RQ-180
Production company: Northrop Grumman Special feature: drone-based aerial surveillance aircraft Estimated production cost: unknown (classified) For a long time, it was not at all clear that an RQ-180 existed, but extravagant aviation fans were able to discover that it was in fact already being built. There is growing evidence that this secret project was carried out by the U.S. Air Force. The funding is also highly secret, only known to be part of the U.S. Air Force budget. This particular aircraft is made of steel and has no pilot; it is also very useful for surveillance flights
RQ-180
Venus spaceship
Production company: Northrop Grumman Special feature: can survive flight in the atmosphere of Venus Estimated production cost: 1 billion euros* (project cost) Northrop Grumman is also developing another aircraft called the Venus, in addition to the secretive QR-180. This model would be an inflatable propeller-driven aircraft, capable of turning for a few years in the hostile, sulfuric-acid-laden skies of Venus. NASA could be interested in this research, having funded the project to the tune of one billion euros. Venus is rich in carbon dioxide, so the VAMP must be very robust to survive in this atmosphere
Venus spacecraft
Aeromobil 0.3
Production company: Aeromobil Special feature: flying car Estimated production cost: 1.3 – 1.6 million euros per unit* This spectacular flying car from Euromobil could be on the market as early as 2023. At least, that’s what the manufacturer promises. Admittedly, this model could just as easily have come out of a science-fiction film, and would have been inspired by the Greek Pegasus. But it could soon become a reality. Research and development has taken over ten years, which seems to have been worthwhile, as the Euromobil can be transformed into an airplane in less than 3 minutes
Aeromobil 0.3
Jaxa plane
Production company: JAXA Special features: supersonic with low noise emission Estimated production cost: 137.8 million euros* (project cost) The Japanese company JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the leaders in modern aerospace technology. They are currently working on a supersonic aircraft capable of carrying 30 to 50 passengers. When it comes to reducing the supersonic bang, they’re way ahead of the Concord. It is said that the price of a plane ticket would also be cheaper than that of its competitor at the time
Jaxa plane
Spike S-512
Production company: Spike Aerospace Special features: supersonic business jet Estimated production cost: €80 million per unit* Spike Aerospace’s Spike S-512 is intended to be a supersonic business jet. It could then be used for private and business travel, and would take just 3 to 4 hours to fly from New York to London. In making this aircraft, the Boston, Massachusetts-based start-up is one of the youngest companies to be involved in supersonic transport. One of the special features is that the plane would have no windows, but tiny cameras that would send everything to a curved screen on the walls.
Spike S-512
SR-72
Production company: Lockheed Martin Special features: hypersonic drone Estimated production cost: 1 billion euros* (project cost) The predecessor of this model is the SR-71 Blackbird, which was withdrawn from the market in 1998. Lockheed Martin’s SR-72 is a latest-generation hypersonic drone. The “son of the Blackbird”, as it is also known, is only a concept today. The first test vehicle should be completed by 2025. In 2018, it was announced that this model is now capable of launching hypersonic missiles.
SR-72
Skylon
Production company: Reaction Engines Limited Special feature: single-stage spaceplane for orbital flight Estimated production cost: 12 billion euros* (project cost) This new kind of aircraft is a concept creation by British company Reaction Engines Limited. The Skylon can be launched into orbit in a single step, and also uses the so-called SABRE, a combined air-breathing rocket propulsion system. This model is not only very fast, but also runs on hydrogen. It can reach a height of 85,000 feet and a top speed of 5.4 Mach. However, this technology is very expensive
Skylon
WB-1010 Wind whale
Production company: Yanko Design Special feature: harvests wind energy in flight Estimated production cost: Unknown This futuristic concept from Yanko Design looks like a flying wonder. The WB-1010, or “Spruce Whale”, could lift over 1,500 people into the air and reach speeds of over 1,000 km/h. Interestingly, the windows would be made of intelligent glass, and the plane could generate energy from the wind as it flies. With so many advantages, we can’t wait to see when this concept can become a reality – after all, it would have the potential to revolutionize airliners
WB-1010 Spruce Whale
Airbus VSR700 OPV
Production company: Airbus Special feature: high-endurance VTOL UAV Estimated production cost: Unknown The VSR700 OPV is a modern vehicle developed by Airbus. It has been manufactured for the navy so that it can establish a link between naval units. The developed image of the aircraft should determine a clearer and larger tactical picture for commanders. This compact aircraft has several search and rescue features and a high-level autonomous platform. In this development, we can clearly see that Airbus is trying to meet the wishes of the world’s naval forces
Airbus VSR700 OPV
Boeing electric cargo
Production company: Boeing Special feature: unmanned cargo vehicle Estimated production cost: €306.6 million* The novelty of this Boeing is that it is an unmanned cargo vehicle that is entirely electric. For the first time, such a technology has been developed, which can be controlled entirely by remote control. The cargo UAV has twelve propellers and six twin-rotor systems. The project was tested in 2017, but development is continuing. The electric freighter was tested outdoors two years later. in 2020, however, development came to a halt due to Boeing’s financial losses. However, the company is trying to continue the project
Boeing electric cargo
AeroMobil 4.0
Production company: Aeromobil s.r.o. Special feature: flying car with Subaru engine Estimated production cost: 1.3 – 1.6 million euros* The 4.0 range is the most recent aeromobile. The first of this model was developed in the 1990s and by 2017, the fourth stage had already been developed, so the flying car has become much more modern. It features hybrid propulsion, with 300 hp petrol or 110 hp electric power. Development came to a halt in 2015, after the model suffered a terrible accident. Fortunately, the pilot was unhurt
AeroMobil 4.0
Crystal Skye’s Boeing 777-200LR
Production company: Boeing, Crystal AirCruises Special feature: luxury superjet Estimated production cost: €50,000 per hour to charter* The Boeing 777 is one of the most successful aircraft in aviation history, and also the most durable. Anyone who has ever taken a long-haul flight will have discovered this model. The new Crystal Skye Boeing 777-200LR can offer a totally private flying experience. Those wishing to rent this luxury aircraft will have to pay €50,000 per hour. On board, for example, there’s a bar, a dining room and a passenger cabin with 28 business-class seats. A truly luxurious journey
Crystal Skye’s Boeing 777-200LR
Green Airways flying saucer
Production company: CleanEra Distinguishing feature: ecological and lightweight Estimated production cost: unknown The CleanEra company has set out to create a flying saucer. In any case, they may cause a stir, but not only the outward appearance, but also the ecological character of the Green Airway are remarkable. The CleanEra project was developed in the Netherlands and is set to become one of the aircraft of the future. To ensure that the aircraft consumes less fuel, lightweight materials and propellers were used in its construction. Many doubt that the project will ever see the light of day in this form, but the knowledge gained from the research has been invaluable
The Green Airways flying saucer
Aeroscraft Dirigible airship
Production company: Worldwide Aeros Corp Special features: heavy VTOL aircraft Estimated production cost: 3 billion euros* (project cost) The Aeroscraft Dirigible airship was developed by Worldwide Aeros Corp and features a rigid structure and variable lift. Static buoyancy can be obtained by pumping helium and storing it. If you want to increase lift, you have to fill the gas bags with helium. It also has a low flight speed and VTOL capabilities. So this innovative cargo airship has a lot of interesting new features. The project has a price tag of around 3 billion euros and will probably be commissioned in 2023.
The Aeroscraft Dirigible airship
Maglev urban air transport
Production company: various Distinctive feature: energy-efficient levitation train Estimated production cost: 1.2 billion euros* This technology may be futuristic, but it’s far from new. Magnetic levitation trains have been studied and developed for around 100 years. After all, they are an essential part of the urban transport system in South Korea, Japan and China. The Maglev system also uses magnetic fields to enable vehicles to float. They are often used as high-speed trains or even for extreme roller coasters. In the case of this Maglev Air Urban Transport, the aim was to create a cross between a plane and a train. As for the future of this project, it could indeed be of interest to many large cities
The Maglev Air Urban Transport
Skytug hybrid airship from Lockheed Martin
Production company: Lockheed Martin Special features: aerostatic and aerodynamic Estimated production cost: €40 million per unit* The P-791 comes from Lockheed Martin and is still in the experimental stage. It was developed as part of the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence program. The hybrid aircraft made its first test flight in 2006. A single unit is expected to cost around €40 million. This cost is particularly high considering that the company lost out to Northrop Grumman. Despite this, the aircraft was not scrapped, but converted into a civilian cargo plane, which now bears the name SkyTug.
Lockheed Martin’s Skytug hybrid airship