Airplane Design

Samad’s new Q-Starling uses stylistic cues from classic fighter planes and contemporary sportscars, while establishing a few of its own.

Hydrogen could cut commercial air traffic emissions by half.

A scaled version of the V-Wing made its first flight, showing that alternative designs could become long-distance aircraft of the future.

While automation is inevitable, it will take time and FAA certification before flying an aircraft involves pushing a button and taking off. But aviation experts say it’s coming.

Sharing the common theme of innovation, here are the most noteworthy aircraft from aviation’s pioneering days through today’s advanced business jets.

Unlike commercial airliners focusing on small gains in efficiency, developing business jets is about “speed, safety and security,” says one veteran test pilot. In other words, pushing the design envelope.

The converted Cessna E-Caravan may not look as sexy as new-generation electric aircraft, but it will be a lot more practical for flight.

The H2PlasmaRay uses hydrogen fuel cells to give it a much longer range than competitors in the emerging eVTOL segment.

Tilt-wing applications were first used in the 1960s, but MOBi-One’s new design is on the leading edge of the eVTOL revolution.