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MIT Engineers Create Airplane Concept to Minimize Air Pollution

Flex Air Charters — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:53:15 +0000

In early 2021, MIT engineers disclosed that they had developed a unique concept for a hybrid-electric plane that might curb air pollution for aviation service providers. New research found out that it could reduce up to 95% of nitrogen oxide emissions. This might help save lives because pollution has been known to cause up to 16,000 early deaths annually.

This airplane concept will be different from what is applied in today’s aircraft. Most of them are designed in a way that makes it impossible to install emission-control technology since it would affect the engine’s performance. Therefore, the airplanes produce nitrogen oxides when flying at cruising altitudes. More often than not, these chemicals lead to the formation of ozone and other fine particles. They are the main reason for air pollution, causing respiratory disease, asthma, and heart diseases.

In the recent “turbo-electric” design, an emissions control system will take in all the emissions generated by the plane’s gas turbine. It will guarantee that the exhaust is cleaned before the chemicals are released into the air, reducing air pollution. More details about this concept and its health and environmental benefits were first published in the Energy and Environmental Science journal on December 7, 2020.

Steven Barrett, an aeronautics and astronautics professor at MIT, collaborated with his team to birth the idea of this hybrid-electric design for airplanes. This was a few years ago when they were looking into a diesel emissions case involving a Volkswagen. Even though this design might be new in airplanes, it is popular in-ground cars used for everyday transportation. Lots of heavy-duty diesel trucks also come with effective emissions control systems. The only difference is that this aircraft design requires plane electrification.

Barrett has already overcome an array of challenges to get to this stage. If this concept works as planned, it could bring positive change to the aviation industry.

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Photo Credit: MIT News Office

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Turboprop Airplanes Offering Great Performance and Value

Flex Air Charters — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:23:45 +0000

The newly designed turboprop aircraft have become the most exciting market segments equipped with innovative features suitable for current and future models. Though the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported a drop in turboprop shipments in 2019, these new models and upgrades have continued to interest buyers. Exceptional dependability while generating more power to carry substantial loads for longer distances are among the reasons making this aircraft most preferred by buyers.

The Pilatus PC – 12 series have proven to redefine single-engine-turboprop aircraft because of its versatility. Launched in 1991, the company has produced over 1,700 units making this luxury business airplane suitable for executive transport. The latest version, the PC-12 NGXi, comes with a BMW Designworks plus advances with a modern cockpit. This new version also comes with more speed and critical features that make it the best than other previous versions.

Another remarkable single-engine turboprop airplane is the Cessna Denali, designed by Textron Aviation engineers. The Denali resembles the PC-12 in terms of performance, a large rear cargo door, and advanced flight-deck technologies with a luxurious interior. This aircraft is powered by a high-compression GE Aviation Catalyst engine and fitted with a Garmin G3000 touchscreen avionic suite. It also has a dual-channel fadec single-power lever accompanied by detents and digital propeller control for streamlined operations.

The Epic Aircraft E1000 model claims a top position of single-engine-turboprop airplanes offering six-passenger capacity and an all-carbon-fiber luxury airplane. It is the transition of the experimental Epic LT kit model with the original E1000 receiving the FAA approval in 2019. The Epic E1000 has a maximum cruising speed of 333 ktas, making it one of the fastest in the segment.

The Daher’s TBM 940 is the latest version of the Venerable 900-series equipped with a thermodynamic-producing engine rating of 1,825 hp. The aircraft also comes with the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck and E-Copilot functions. Other features include a highly customized interior and a large cargo area.

The Beechcraft King Air C90GTx completes the list because it is one of the legendary single-engine-turboprop airplanes though smaller. When flying, it offers more power, including simplified single-pilot operations, square-oval cabin, and Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics suite.

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Photo Credit: Pilatus Aircraft

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Boeing Unveils Concept for the First Hypersonic Passenger Jet

Flex Air Charters — Wed, 29 May 2019 21:49:31 +0000

Boeing has dreams that resemble concepts straight out of science fiction. The first hypersonic, passenger aircraft is expected to be airborne and operational in the next 20 to 30 years.

Hypersonic aircraft air capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 5 and up. That is about five times the speed of sound, which is 3,806 mph. To put that into perspective, the NASA space shuttles travel at Mach 25 when reentering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Boeing’s Hypersonic Technology

This aircraft is expected to be able to make the flight from London to New York in two hours. This kind of power is already being developed for military purposes. However, Boeing is hoping to have this aircraft operational in the military for ISR in 10 years.

According to Boeing, this aircraft is not the only hypersonic technology that is being developed. This aircraft is being developed upon a foundation of six decades of experiments and work across the company as a whole.

Private Air Travel is the Way of the Future

While hypersonic air travel is in the works, private air travel remains as the way to travel comfortably. Rather than spending 18 hours stuffed between baggage and inconsiderate passengers, consider sitting back and relaxing with plenty of space to comfortably rest or work.

The experts at Flex Air Charters have the ability to efficiently arrange all logistical transport to and from your destinations. Whether you are a VIP executive or a large family looking to take a private vacation, we have the perfect options for you.

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Top 10 Fastest Military Jets in the World

Flex Air Charters — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:45:52 +0000

Many aircraft exceeds speeds of Mach 2.0, however, some of them are research aircraft and some used for reconnaissance purposes. The following are just a few masterpieces of military engineering.

The X-43

The X-43. (Credit: NASA)

This experimental, unmanned hypersonic aircraft is a part of the X-Plane series from NASA’s Hyper-X Program. The X-43 is currently the fastest recorded air travel, breaching Mach 9.6 barrier. Its top speed: 7,307 mph.

Boeing X-51 Scramjet

The X-51 Waverider. (Credit: US Air Force)

Also known as the Waverider, this unmanned aircraft is used to research hypersonic flight. With an altitude of 70,000 ft, this vessel surpasses Mach 5. Being a love child of DARPA, the United States Air Force, the goal is to have this craft in service as a platform for a fast-attack missile. Its top speed: 3,900 mph

SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Blackbird. (Credit: Lockheed Martin)

The Blackbird has the capability of flying at the very edge of the atmosphere at 85,000 feet. Accumulating numerous awards for aeronautic design, performance, and versatility, it is hard to even see this aircraft. Its top speed: 25,000 mph.

The Lockheed YF-12

The Lockheed YF-12 (Credit: NASA)

This American prototype was originally studied by the United States Air Force in the 1960s. The YF-12 still holds the record for the largest manned interceptor. With a maximum altitude of 80,000 feet, its top speed is 2,275 mph.

The MiG-25 Foxbat

The MiG-25 Foxbat (Credit: MiGFlug)

Designed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, this interceptor, and reconnaissance aircraft is still among the fastest military aircraft to enter into service. Its top speed is 2,170 mph.

North American XB-70 Valkyrie

The B-70 Valkyrie (Credit: US Air Force Ken Larock)

The Valkyrie was originally designed to be used as a bomber. With one flight above Mach 3, the second prototype XB-70 crashed into another jet and killed two people. While the aircraft was a technological wonder at the time, it was the wrong plane for the time period. The military needed low flying bombers to fight back against Soviet defenses. Its top speed: 2,056 mph.

Mikoyan Ye-152

Ye-152 (Credit: Flavien Breitenmoser)

This inceptor aircraft was designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. The purpose was to see how close they could get to breaking world records. The Ye-152, unfortunately, was terminated after it crashed in 1965. Its top speed: 1,883 mph.

Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound

The MiG-31 Foxhound (Credit: Russian Ministry of Defence)

Originally designed as a replacement for the MiG-25, the Foxhound interceptor aircraft was designed by the Soviet Union in 1975. It smashed maximum altitude records reaching 123,520 in 1977. The MiG-31 also set a record for time to height: 115,000 ft in four minutes and 11 seconds. Its top speed: 1,860 mph.

F-15 Eagle

F-15 Eagle (Credit: US Air Force)

This twin-engined, all-weather tactical fighter was designed by McDonnell Douglas, now known as Boeing in 1972. The Eagle’s maximum flight distance is 1,222 miles or 3,450 miles with external tanks. This multirole fighter has withstood the test of time with zero losses due to enemy air activity. Its top speed: 1,650 mph.

Sukhoi Su-27

SU-27 (Credit: Dmitriy Pichugin)

The Su-27 is a twin-engine, super-maneuverable aircraft. The original origin was in the Soviet Union as a direct competitor of the U.S. after the development of the F-15. It has a maximum flight distance of 2,193 miles with internal fuel. Its top speed: 1,550 mph. We, at Flex Air Charters, specialize in getting you from point-to-point in the fastest, most efficient, and most affordable way possible.

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Reasons Why Most Planes are Painted White

Flex Air Charters — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:45:22 +0000

You might have wondered why a majority of airplanes are painted white. Believe it or not, there are a few really interesting reasons why this is done. Some would wonder why we bother painting airplanes in the first place. However, an unpainted plane would leave the aircraft unprotected and exposed to harsh weather conditions. Among those reasonings, there are some for safety purposes while others are economical.

Climate Control

Much like cars and clothes, the darker the color, the more sunlight and heat it absorbs. White paint allows sunlight to reflect off of it instead of being absorbed. This makes the cooling costs decrease for airlines.

Cheaper

One airplane takes an average of 65 gallons of paint and about two to seven days. Decorative painting can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000. The time and effort that have to go into decorative painting will cause a loss of revenue. Paint adds between 600 to 1,200 lbs of weight to the aircraft as well, thus costing more in fuel to fly.

Fading Purposes

When flying at high altitudes, airplanes are exposed to various atmospheric conditions. Over time, the paint on colored airplanes will oxidize and fade. It may maintain an aesthetic appeal, but a lot of upkeep is required.

Resale Purposes

Because of the required upkeep of colored airplanes, they do not hold their value very well. Someone looking to buy an airplane would be more likely to pay less for a colorful plane.

Damage Control

Much like a car, it is easier to spot cracks, dents, scratches, and oil spills with a white vehicle. This allows the aircraft to remain repaired and in excellent condition. It is also easier to clean with a painted finish.

Search and Rescue

In the case of an unfortunate event, a white fuselage is easier to see from the air. For example, search and rescue would have a difficult time finding a plane in the forest if it is painted green.

Birds

Typically, you would think this reasoning is ridiculous. However, according to a U.S. study, bird strike rates are more likely to happen with a darker or colored fuselage. The white reflects the sun allowing birds the opportunity to see the aircraft and fly away.

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