Gizmodo
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planes
Airplanes Getting Stronger Seats and
Starting this fall, all new planes will be required to have heartier seats that can withstand 16x gravity without popping out of place. Plus, they'll be getting airbags in select areas. More »Better PillowsAirbags
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By Mark WilsonComment by BergenCountyJC: Is it safe to have combustible gas as in the airbags in the case of a crash as theorized above? 11 Responses | Other threads
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r/c
R/C Gliders Cruise the Mountainside at 392MPH
An R/C glider with no engine can reach speeds of 392MPH in the right conditions by using a principle called dynamic soaring, as you can see in this clip. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by KeepingTheForeName_GitEmSteveDave: Was I the only one expecting that thing to slip out of the trans-warp eddy and just smack someone? 11 Responses | Other threads
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furniture
F-4 Ejection Seat Sticks It to Work in Style, Overkill
Maybe you fantasize about leaving that shitty office job for something else like, I dunno, opening a charming B&B on the coast or being Maverick from Top Gun. Well this is how you quit. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by 3DaysTillTheState_GitEmSteveDave: I never realized the Air Force equipped all of their f-4's w/red stitched Corinthian Leather seats. You learn something... 5 Responses | Other threads
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science
Synthetic Tree Will Hopefully Capture Tons of Carbon Dioxide, Save the Planet
Scientists at Columbia University are working on a sort of synthetic tree that aims to capture about 1,000 times as much carbon dioxide as more organic versions. They're hoping to extend the technology even to heavy-emitting cars and planes. More »
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By Dan NosowitzComment by squishyalt: Or....you could just plant more trees & stop chopping down the ones we have. Oh, wait....that's be too simple. 10 Responses | Other threads
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airlines
In-Flight Entertainment Could Go Wireless, But You'll Have to Bring Your Own Screen
Personal in-flight entertainment systems are getting pretty close to ubiquitous, at least on long-haul planes. According to the NYT, in-flight wi-fi will soon be just as common. Now airlines are wondering: why not just combine the two? More »
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By John HerrmanComment by Worf: Well, they throw out their seatback screens and distribution systems (which must be aviation-certified), and leave the entertainment to "bring... 1 Responses | Other threads
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in-flight wi-fi
The Weird State of In-Flight Wi-Fi in the US
Airlines don't officially compete on being the most efficient at stripping away your remaining tatters of dignity. No, the new battleground is in-flight Wi-Fi. I'm somehow unsurprised the worst airline in the country is winning. More »
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Comment by Nick: oh, gosh. i am struggling to not make a joke about tech support now flying directly to your home to... 5 Responses | Other threads
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space
Video: Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo in Action
We all know the Virgin Galactic WhiteKnightTwo can actually fly. Now, Wired has an exclusive video of the plane in action, further squashing any skepticism of the plane. More »
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Comment by Nathan Tokala: so this is the piece of crap thats going to get us into space no offense but it looks retarded... 9 Responses | Other threads
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travel
American Airlines Installing Wi-Fi on 318 Planes
As of right now, American Airlines has Gogo Wi-Fi on all of 15 planes. Today they've announced that 318 more planes will be getting this $100,000 upgrade...but it will take a few years for the project to be complete. By the time it actually happens, I plan on having internet beamed straight to my soul. It'll only be 6Mbps, but I'll really feel the pain of all those cat memes. [LA Times]
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By Mark WilsonComment by Nick: did they say anything about blocking skype and or the naughty bits? 4 Responses | Other threads
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airplanes
A Look at the Mysterious 'Black Box'
Any time a plane goes down, the black box recorder, once again, becomes a mythical machine whispered about in the back alleys of news broadcasts. So Wired assembled a technological rundown on the device. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by sfokevin: Why is it painted red?... Seems like that could be confusing for search teams that are looking for a "Black"... 22 Responses | Other threads
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breaking
Plane Crash Kills 49 in Upstate New York
Flight 3407, a commuter plane crashed into a home in upstate New York and erupted in flames earlier tonight. Authorities say the death toll is currently at 49 people. Update More » -
airports
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Using Radar and Pyrotechnics to Keep Birds off the Runway
In the wake of the airplane crash landing in NYC's Hudson River, CNN has an interesting article about the Seattle-Tacoma Airport spending $250,000 yearly to prevent the same bird strikes that caused last month's incident. More »
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Comment by mrtallbones: The naked protesters that PETA will send will probably be more amusing than the normal crap that goes on in... 3 Responses | Other threads
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art
In the Shadow of Technology, Super Powers Turn Meaningless
Sorry Superman, but at least you still have X-ray vision. See the wonders of flight and other meaningless super powers (like 99% Opacity Man) over at the Superuseless Superpowers blog. [SS via about:blank]
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By Mark WilsonComment by KeepingTheForeName_GitEmSteveDave: I am Obscure Facts Man. I was born/created on the 13th day of the 13th month in the lab... 12 Responses | Other threads
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planes
Flight Simulation of the Hudson River Waterlanding
The BBC commissioned a flight-sim reproduction of the last week's near-miraculous US Airways incident. So, in case you were wondering, this is what it looks like to pilot a commercial jet onto a river. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by OMG! Ponies!: I think I'll pick up the most recent copy of Flight Simulator. I've got a desktop computer again which... 7 Responses | Other threads
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motorcycles
Stealth Bomber: Cool As a Plane, Really, Really, Really Stupid as a Motorcycle
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, an occasion that can only be properly immortalized by the crew at Orange County Choppers, apparently. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by KeepingTheForeName_GitEmSteveDave: I want some B-1 love! It was in Real Genius. This plane was in Broken Arrow. Who's... 17 Responses | Other threads
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designmodo
Beautiful U.K. Stamp Series Features Britain's Most Iconic Industrial Designs
So the English get to lick and stick ten beautiful icons of modern design, and we get Elvis? I see how it is. More »
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By John MahoneyComment by 92BuickLeSabre: And it's not just the designs featured, but the design of the stamp. The colors, the placement, the font.... 13 Responses | Other threads
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inflight wi-fi
United Airlines Wi-Fi to Cost $13 Later This Year
United has announced more details regarding their long-planned inflight internet services. Coming in the second half of this year, Wi-Fi will cost customers $13 per flight. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by verythrax: Why charge for it? People can access wifi almost everywhere, and plane tickets aren't exactly cheap. How about giving it for... 5 Responses | Other threads
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peripherals
The Jet Mouse Locks In On That Promotion
That sterile, beige mouse just isn't getting the job done for you. How do we know? We just know. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by Curves: Cute, but the ergonomics dont look very friendly. (I wonder if it will automatically expand the comments on Giz that... 2 Responses | Other threads
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flying cars
British Adventurer to Traverse Europe, Africa in His Amazing Skycar
Lifelong risk-taker Neil Laughton plans to travel from London to Timbuktu in a dune buggy, a trip that will take him an estimated 42 days. Oh, and that dune buggy? It can fly. More »
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By John HerrmanComment by PeterSimpson: Meh...old news. Moe "Fan Man" Syzlak already did it. 3 Responses | Other threads
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airliners
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Delayed Again
Boeing's next-gen all-composite airliner, the 787 Dreamliner, has taken another hit to its production schedule which has set the project as a whole two years behind.
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By John MahoneyComment by eddiecoaster: I wish that time/money was spent on a supersonic aircraft. I'm tired of it taking 9 hours to go from... 12 Responses | Other threads
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iphone
iPhone Barf Bag Mod is Perfect for Airsick MacGyver
Anyone can fashion a piece of cardboard to hold their iPhone at home, but who has a pile of old boxes and a spare sharpened implement on a plane? (Not you, hopefully.)
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By Mark WilsonComment by Ehrich Blackhound: "spare sharpened implement"? Huh? 5 Responses | Other threads
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airplanes
Finnair Shows Us How We'll Fly in 2093
Finnair thinks it knows how your children's children might be flying around the skies (and space) in about 90 years. One way might be in a flashy personal craft; another way could be a slick hybrid craft that transitions from 35,000ft. to low earth orbit with ease. The planes each have that sleek look we'd expect the future to have, but I think Finnair needs to try a bit harder. This is the future, after all, and nary a mention of a flying car? Sacrilege. And the Space Hotel, especially, kinda looks like it was stripped from an old Buck Rogers Amazing Stories novella. More »
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By Jack LoftusComment by vgart: Ok maybe im not a pro in physics, but that flying thing will not work. How can those tiny wings... 4 Responses | Other threads
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boeing 787
Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
In order to get certified by the FAA, every new plane must undergo wing tests to prove that it can withstand 150% of the load that it could ever be expected to encounter in flight. Engineers usually try to pass the test, and continue to stretch the wings to see just how far they can get, resulting in spectacular wing-snappings. The Boeing 787 cleared the 150% with no trouble at all, but engineers stopped short of snapping the wing. Why? Because the 787 uses revolutionary composite wings, and breakage could result in an explosion of thousands of shards material spreading around the construction hangar. After a little time and some (in all likelihood, hilarious) rationalizing, they've finally done it with a 50ft section of wing — thankfully on video. [Boeing via Reddit]
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By John HerrmanComment by Geisrud: Too bad the wings are attached to the fuselage by half a dozen 1/4" bolts that fail at 30% load. 6 Responses | Other threads
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Future Planes
MIT Team Tapped to Design the Airliners of 2030
A couple of lucky ducks at genius factory MIT have been chosen by NASA to create the planes of the future. The future in this case is the year 2030, to be precise, and they'll have $2 million with which to do it. The Seaquest DSV-inspired image above is one of the initial designs pumped out by the team, led by MIT professor Edward Greitzer. In addition to designing sleek planes that will probably never see the light of day, the team will also be studying ways to make tomorrow's big metal birds quieter, greener and more energy efficient. And MIT, let's work on *insert lame leg room joke here* too, ok? [MIT]
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By Jack LoftusComment by bestpersonintheunivers: I'm willing to bet that you actually tried to think of a "lame legroom joke" and, upon failing, put that... 11 Responses | Other threads
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nuclear
Nuclear Powered Planes Will Not Assure the Destruction of Humankind
Aviation experts in the U.K. are arguing that the industry should push to convert their planes from using fossil fuel to using nuclear energy, an idea that's sure to illicit a visceral “holy crap, god no!” reaction from the get go. But while it's hard to separate the idea from the mental image of flying hydrogen bombs, there ARE actually a lot of good reasons to go nuclear in the sky. More »
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By Elaine ChowComment by TheDustball: "How do you get a crew to want to get off a submarine?... How do you get a crew to... 10 Responses | Other threads
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ears
Ear Pressure Equalizer Sucks On Your Eardrum to Un-Pop It in Planes
Now that's a headline you won't see often, and yet that's exactly what this gizmo does. You pop it in your ear, and squeeze it to create negative pressure outside your eardrum, thus compensating for the sometimes painful inward-flex caused as the aircraft you're flying in descends from altitude. Or you climb back down a mountain. There is a safety vent, so nothing should go bang (ouch!)... as befits a device developed by a professor from the Tinnitus Research and Balance Clinic in Melbourne Australia. Still, since it costs a surprising $60, I'll be sticking with my Eustachian tubes, thankyouverymuch. [OhGizmo]
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By Kit EatonComment by Ike_Skelton: I can do this on my own naturally, without some contraption that will probably damage my ears. 3 Responses | Other threads
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laptops
Intel Licensing Laptop Cooling Systems Based Upon Jet Engine Tech
Intel has developed a system to cool laptops that's not so different from that used on the surface of jet engines. The technology utilizes a laminar (non-turbulent) airflow to push heat away from the bottom of the case, making your laptop suitable for your lap again. Intel finds this technology particularly important as their new mobile processors are bound to be thinner but run hotter. So hang on, Goose. This ride might get bumpy. [CNET via electronista] -
nintendo
The NES Was Never Designed for Flight
I was lucky enough to attend Red Bull's Flugtag event in Chicago last Saturday, but like most other attendees, I wasn't lucky enough to actually watch the event as these flying machines (not really intended for flight) launched off a 30-foot pad that was perpendicular to the shoreline, facing into the water. Regardless, had I the pleasure to watch the event, I would have loved the Nintendudes who crafted a giant NES, Zapper and Duck Hunt duck for flight. To their dismay, vintage gaming gear does not scale to aircraft. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by StarChaser Tyger: I don't really think anything at that is designed to fly. :-p Just plop into the water amusingly. more » | Other threads
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spy gear
MotoPod Solves The Eternal Problem: What Do I Do With My Motorcycle When I'm Flying My Cessna?
Stash it under the belly of the plane for an Indiana-Jones-style getaway once you hit the landing strip, of course. The good folks at MotoPod will mod your light aircraft with one of their aerodynamic moto-carriers, and give you a customized folding motorcycle to cram inside of it for around $10k. Sure it'll shave a few knots off of your cruising speed, but when you mount up with a hot blonde (or tiny Asian sidekick) and ride off on your foldable mini-Hog, you'll know you made the right choice. And judging from the demo video, the MotoPOD looks like it could also serve as an effective canoe, nicely rounding out the land-sea-air transportation trifecta for which every adventuring anthropologist strives. More » -
Green Planes
Greener Skies: Quiet, Fuel-Efficient Airplanes Race in NASA Challenge
This past weekend, a NASA-sanctioned 400-mile "personal air vehicle" race was held in Santa Rosa, CA, to see who had created the quietest, most fuel-efficient plane that's still reasonably fast. Those involved hope pushing these ideas forward will make personal airplanes cost effective someday. These PAVs run as quiet as a pickup truck while averaging a fuel efficiency of 25 to 30 miles per gallon. Four planes showed up for the challenge and $100,000 in prize money was awarded, though the most intriguing craft of them all, a modded DA-20 that runs partially on biodiesel, was unable to compete because of a faulty sensor. In the end, the big winner was the Pipistrel Virus, a two-seater with tech-happy features such as three GPS modules, terrain visualization screen and a rocket-propelled parachute that deploys in the event of a mid-air collision. Here's a look at all four contenders: More » -
sms
OMG! Air Traffic Controller Helps Land Plane With SMS
In light of this thrilling aviation story out of Ireland today, let's rethink this whole banning of the in-flight cell phone conversations, shall we? Sure, allowing for calls during that 6-hour red eye from San Francisco to Boston will bring out the jerkoff in a lot of people, but then again one of those jackasses could save your life! This was the case during a flight from Kerry to Jersey last Thursday, when a pilot lost all electrical power, radio and radar, and had to be guided in to land with nothing more than SMS and a quick-thinking air traffic controller. The plane landed safely, and the ATC is being heralded a hero, but cellphones on planes still sucks, albeit slightly less so than before. [Irish Times via Slashdot]
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By Jack LoftusComment by SeventhExile: @RockLobsterNet: hu never knew that.. gsm = cant transmit @ those speeds.. cdma = can transmit .. would never have thought gsm... more » | Other threads
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electric planes
Lightweight Batterly-Powered ElectricFlyer C Mini-Plane Takes Off On The Cheap
The ElectraFlyer C is a carbon fiber-shelled mini plane that runs on electricity, and it also looks like a lot of fun. It's a mash-up of a commercially available glider body and a lightweight battery and motor/propeller assembly. It can fly for 90 to 120 minutes at up to 90MPH, and you can recharge it in about six hours from a regular 110 volt outlet for about 60 cents. Oh, and it's received its airworthiness cert, meaning it's perfectly legal. [ElectricFlyer via Wired] -
chinese farmer
Chinese Farmer Flies Self-Built Airplane, Doesn't Wet Pants
Seeing as we crapped ourselves twice from just watching this clip, it's a wonder that this Chinese farmer manages to keep it together while flying this death-trap through the skies. The camera only points rearwards at the guy's crotch, but that's probably to show what gigantic balls this guy must have. The guy built this thing out of what looks like dirt and spare parts from broken aircraft, which is pretty much something we wouldn't want to be riding up 300 feet in the air. This reminds us of Mr. Woo, the Chinese Robot Farmer, who built working robots out of stuff he's found at the junk heap. [YouTube via MAKE]
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By Jason ChenComment by -Core-: That must of been the most farking awesome feeling ever! To not only build the plane, but to get it... more » | Other threads
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icon
Foldable Airplane Is Designed For Thrill-Seeking Wusses
The ICON A5 is a light sport airplane (LSA) designed for everyday people (who happen to have enough money for not only a second car but a first plane). Aside from the fact that an LSA takes less training to pilot, the A5 focuses on the little things that almost make the idea of owning a plane feasible—easier storage and death-free landings. More »
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By Mark WilsonComment by HawkSkater0: that looks really sweat, $5000 isn't too bad... compared to a leer jet. 1 Responses | Other threads
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clips
B-2 Bomber Crash Film Finally Released Publicly
Do you remember the $1.2 B-2 Stealth Bomber that crashed during take-off? Well now a video has been released of the event. But let me warn you—it's really, really hard watching so much taxpayer cash wastefully go up in flames, especially when the travesty unfolds so slowly. Apparently the plane's sensors were fooled by the presence of water and convinced the vehicle to pitch up on take-off. Luckily both pilots ejected safely. [via Wired]
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By Mark WilsonComment by Akmed: @MegaZone: well... i guess i could have just simply said it stalled too early. but it's obviously either a computer error... more » | Other threads
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singapore airlines
Singapore Airlines Flights Get iPhone/iPod Docks and 15.4-inch LCDs
Singapore Airlines is installing iPod docks and 15.4-inch widescreen LCDs in their all-Business Class Airbus A340-500 flights between NY/LA and Singapore, ensuring that we're going to be flying with them if we ever have to travel to that part of the world. Each business customer can dock their iPhone or iPod and watch their own movies on the included noise-canceling headphones—which will be interrupting when the captain wants tell you to look off to your left so you can see a drunken Superman mooning your plane. Flights from Newark with this will start May 15 (today), and August for the LA ones. Maybe now business passengers won't engage in business time whilst in the air.
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By Jason ChenComment by Worf: So now Airbus is competing with Boeing on who's the largest iPod accessory manufacturer in the world? more » | Other threads
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r/c
First Person R/C Plane, Almost as Good as Actually Flying
The Pilot View FPV 2400 is a (wireless) camera system that can strap on any R/C plane and stream images to the pilot, who wears video goggles below. Range is about 1 kilometer over the 2.4Ghz spectrum, and the video quality from such systems really isn't so bad (hit the jump for an example clip). At $550, it's a commitment, and seemingly a tad risky to strap onto an even more expensive, properly-weighted R/C plane. More » -
urinals
Urinals Coming to Airplanes, Beware the Golden Shower Turbulence
This is a pic of the urinals at Stockholm's Arlanda airport, courtesy of urinal.net, but if a German design company has its way, pissoirs will soon be a feature of passenger jets. Dassler Interiors has designed one-man urinals designed to stand alongside (sorry) the existing cubicle toilets on planes—let's just hope that they come with doors. More »
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By AddyDugdaleComment by aec007: Hell, it a lot better than having the GeeWhiz Condom Catheter [gizmodo.com] shoved in your willy and plastic bag strapped... more » | Other threads
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mobile air
Emirates the First Airline to Allow Inflight Calls from Passenger Cellphones
Dubai-based airline Emirates has claimed the first ever permitted mobile phone call from a commercial flight. The conversations took place aboard a Casablanca-bound Airbus A340 that had been kitted out with a system that stops cellphones from messing with the plane's electronics. By the end of the year its passengers will be able to clack away on their BlackBerries and use other data services, such as sending texts. Calls on night flights will not be allowed, and the crews will be allowed to prohibit yakking whenever they feel like it. The only stipulation is that cell users, who can only make calls when at cruising height keep their phones switched to silent—thank God—during flights. [BBC Online] -
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Comment by SneakerFiend: How many people are actually going to be willing to pay the 10 dollars??? If the 2MBs is for share then... more » | Other threads
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watches
Zero-G Defy Xtreme Stealth Watch Had Better Get You Noticed
The Zero-G Defy Xtreme Stealth by elite watchmaker Zenith is one of the most lust-worthy timepieces we've seen in recent history. Modeled after the famous Stealth Bomber, this blackened titanium watch (utilizing a PVD coating process) is specially crafted to keep time without extreme gravity throwing off your appointments. Featuring a titanium strap with Kevlar inserts, hop out of your matching stealth jet, go for a dive down to 1,000 feet and stop a bullet with your wrist—all for what looks to be an increasingly reasonable $500,000. [zenith via coolhunting]
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By Mark WilsonComment by CaliforniaKid: $500k for an analog watch unaffected by gravity?! What am I not understanding? What's wrong with using a cheap, plain... more » | Other threads
planes
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