It’s been a long and arduous journey, but, after many decades in the game for some, and just a few years for others, aircraft manufacturing companies are closer than ever to their goals of finding the perfect balance of size, speed, and design, that will take humanity into its next phase of air travel.
Whether a futuristic suborbital aircraft that can travel at more than 15,000 mph, or a completely electric-powered flying hotel, these are a few of the aircrafts that might be hitting the skies in the, somewhat, near future.
1. Zunum’s hybrid-electric aircraft
Production Company: Zunum Aero
Feature: Hybrid
EST. Cost of Production: >$4 Million*
In the United States, the ability to fly between small towns with ease is something that has, thus far, eluded commuters. Founded in 2013, and backed by Boeing as well as JetBlue Technology, Zunum Aero developed an aircraft that was designed to help combat the longer than necessary commutes that travelers have been forced to embark on.Zunum aimed to have its hybrid aircraft carry passengers, up to 700 miles, to any one of the 15,000+ airports in America, and was designed to leave a small ecological footprint by transitioning completely into an electric vehicle once the appropriate battery technology has been developed. Unfortunately, Zunum Aero was not able to see its vision come to fruition, as the aircraft manufacturer went defunct in 2019.
2. The AW609
Production Company: Leonardo S.p.A (Formerly AgustaWestland)
Feature: Tiltrotor Technology
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
Leonardo S.p.A’s AW609 was designed to bring the speed of a turboprop airplane and the take-off/landing capabilities of a helicopter together to create a tiltrotor aircraft suitable for the civil sector. It was way back in 2002, that tests of the first prototype began, but it would be a long time yet before this aircraft would attain its certification.
You must be logged in to post a comment.