Important Innovations

  British Airways' Sister Company's $600 Million Deal for Airlanders                                                                                   Source: Hybrid Air Vehicles The Airlander:  New Mode of Regional Travel in Europe By 2026, passengers could be flying back and forth between the UK and Spain on next-G, helium powered airships, called the Airlander  10. The Airlander is a long-endurance, multi-intelligence vehicle (LEMV) and the world's biggest lighter-than-air vehicle.  It can travel at speeds of 148 km or 92 mph.  For passenger service, the maximum speed will be 80 mph and the average travel distance will be 185 to 250 miles.  As unique aviation technology and multifunctional in operations, it can be configured for passengers or cargo.  And, its business operations just took off.  A $600 million deal has been struck by British Airways' sister company Air Nostrum, based in Spain, to buy 10 Airlanders from British company Hybrid Air Vehicles.  Hybrid Air

  Off-Roading in Style with Zero Emissions                                                  Source:  Toyota Part of Lifestyle-Oriented EV Megatrend Toyota has unveiled a number of new images of its new Compact Cruiser EV concept.  The vehicle is a boxy, compact off-roader with good looks and zero emissions.  In fact, it is the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Car Design Award for Concept Vehicles.  The vehicle is an outdoorsy beauty that was created by the Toyota Europe Design development team in Nice, France.  It is expected to go into production and is one of the most fascinating of the 16 upcoming battery electric concepts that Toyota and Lexus recently introduced. It's a prime example of the global automotive megatrend of consumers desiring EVs that reflect their lifestyle interests. New Design This vehicle is reminiscent of the iconic Toyota FJ Cruiser.  It is both retro and futuristic, smooth and rugged with a compact footprint. It has squared off fenders, strong body sectio

  Off-Roading in Style with Zero Emissions                                                                                                     Source:  Toyota Part of Lifestyle-Oriented EV Megatrend Toyota has unveiled a number of new images of its new Compact Cruiser EV concept.  The vehicle is a boxy, compact off-roader with good looks and zero emissions.  In fact, it is the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Car Design Award for Concept Vehicles.  The vehicle is an outdoorsy beauty that was created by the Toyota Europe Design development team in Nice, France.  It is expected to go into production and is one of the most fascinating of the 16 upcoming battery electric concepts that Toyota and Lexus recently introduced. It's a prime example of the global automotive megatrend of consumers desiring EVs that reflect their lifestyle interests. New Design This vehicle is reminiscent of the iconic Toyota FJ Cruiser.  It is both retro and futuristic, smooth and rugged with a compact footpr

  Lockheed Martin is Developing a Real-World SR-72 Darkstar                          Source: Top Gun Maverick & Lockheed Martin The World's Fastest Aircraft The blockbuster movie "Top Gun: Maverick" has two top stars:  Tom Cruise as test pilot Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Darkster, the fictional hypersonic aircraft SR-72.  Darkstar was created and designed by the world-famous aviation design group, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, which created the U-2 spy plane, F-22 Raptor, Nighthawk Stealth fighter and more. Now, it turns out that Darkstar is more than a work of fiction. The Skunk Works team is currently working on a real-life version of the SR-72 that is virtually identical to the movie version.  And it may take flight in 2025. The SR-71 Darkstar is based on Lockheed Martin's SR-71, which is a high altitude, long range strategic intelligence aircraft, operated by the US Air Force and NASA.  The movie version is a hypersonic UAV (unmanned ae

  Lockheed Martin is Developing a Real-World SR-72 Darkstar                          Source: Top Gun Maverick & Lockheed Martin The World's Fastest Aircraft The blockbuster movie "Top Gun: Maverick" has two top stars:  Tom Cruise as test pilot Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and Darkster, the fictional hypersonic aircraft SR-72.  Darkstar was created and designed by the world-famous aviation design group, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, which created the U-2 spy plane, F-22 Raptor, Nighthawk Stealth fighter and more. Now, it turns out that Darkstar is more than a work of fiction. The Skunk Works team is currently working on a real-life version of the SR-72 that is virtually identical to the movie version.  And it may take flight in 2025. The SR-71 Darkstar is based on Lockheed Martin's SR-71, which is a high altitude, long range strategic intelligence aircraft, operated by the US Air Force and NASA.  The movie version is a hypersonic UAV (unmanned ae

  Venus Aerospace's Mach 9 Space Plane Stargazer                                               Source:  Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Air Travel For Passengers Texas-based aerospace startup Venus Aerospace has unveiled the first conceptual design of its hypersonic space plane Stargazer that is capable of Mach 9 or 6,905 mph.  The hypersonic space plane is designed to take passengers anyplace in the world in an hour or less. The vehicle will take off from and land in any conventional airport and travel to the edges of space for fast, long-distance flights. The new concept is a look at the future of warp-speed global travel for passengers by hypersonic aircraft. The company is also working on a Mach 9 hypersonic drone. Well-Funded Startup, Technology and Business Plan Stargazer will initially be able to carry 12 passengers.  It will take off and land sub-sonically from airport runways and then fly hypersonically when it reaches 170,000 feet.  The plane is designed to be 100 feet wide, l

  Venus Aerospace's Mach 9 Space Plane Stargazer                                               Source:  Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Air Travel For Passengers Texas-based aerospace startup Venus Aerospace has unveiled the first conceptual design of its hypersonic space plane Stargazer that is capable of Mach 9 or 6,905 mph.  The hypersonic space plane is designed to take passengers anyplace in the world in an hour or less. The vehicle will take off from and land in any conventional airport and travel to the edges of space for fast, long-distance flights. The new concept is a look at the future of warp-speed global travel for passengers by hypersonic aircraft. The company is also working on a Mach 9 hypersonic drone. Well-Funded Startup, Technology and Business Plan Stargazer will initially be able to carry 12 passengers.  It will take off and land sub-sonically from airport runways and then fly hypersonically when it reaches 170,000 feet.  The plane is designed to be 100 feet wide, l