Aviation has come a long ways in the past 100 years, and the
alternative fuel sources once used and those
currently being tested are not an exception.
In the past, these fuel sources included battery power, such as the
MB-E1 that used a 10 kW electric motor and Varta batteries, solar power which
was successful for a whole 90 second flight in 1979, liquid hydrogen as tested
by the Russians, as well as pure biofuel and biofuel and kerosene mixtures. However, in the past 50 years advances in
alternative fuel sources and aviation have allowed us to expand on these
(commonly) failed attempts to produce successful outcomes and greener forms of
flight.
On March
9 of this past year Solar Impulse 2 became the first aircraft to successfully
participate in a round-the-world flight powered solely by the Sun. Due to this success, aviation experts are
hopeful about the future of aviation and have plans in store for more
advancements to come. Solar drones are
set to enter commercial production this year, and in the next two years a cargo
carrying ship is scheduled to take flight without the need for a runway as it
will rely on vertical take-offs and landings.
Around the year 2030 the E-Thrust airliner will be in the air, powered
by lithium-air batteries that provide enough power for take-off and landing but
will need recharged during the flight.
However, this method produces barely any emission or noise during
take-off and landing. 2060 is predicted
to be the year that aircraft are catapulted into the sky like fighter jets and
self-organize to fly in formation to reduce wind drag and save fuel as they fly
“express skyways” which should cut time, delays, stress, and emissions.
Finally, the first zero-emissions commercial airline, Progress Eagle” is
thought to take flight in 2070. It is a
triple-decker plane that seats 800 passengers, is installed with self-repairing
wings, and is powered by six hydrogen engines, a rear engine that also acts as
a wind turbine, and solar panels on the roof and wings.
The future of aviation looks bright, and let’s hope the same
is true for alternative fuel sources.
http://www.bbc.com/future/sponsored/story/10062015-timeline-into-the-future-of-aviation?ocid=nativedassaultoutbrain
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