81lb Airplane

A team of Yamaha motorcycle designers have put their experience to the test in a new field by developing an ultralight airplane that’s powered by a simple set of pedals – just like your bike! Constructed from superlight polystyrene and carbon fiber, the plane weighs only 81 pounds despite a wingspan of 117 feet. Encouraged by mostly successful test flights, Team Aeroscepsy will attempt to set a new world record by flying Gokurakutombo (which means “happy-go-lucky” – and apparently also “happy dragonfly” in Japanese) 75 miles over the Pacific Ocean.

Read more: Ultralight 81 Pound Airplane to Attempt World Record For Human-Powered Flight | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Domestic Drones

I bet you had no idea that so many organizations were flying robots over your head.

Reader Poll: Transition vs. PAL-V

There are at least two different consumer products coming out to solve our problem of not having wings like a bird or at least a car like George Jetson.

Record Skydive Suit

To keep you interested in the upcoming attempt at a 140,000ft free-fall, PopSci has a cool article on the flight suit that Felix Baumgartner will wear.

John Grisham, futurist?

I have been fascinated by the possibilities of hypersonic flight ever since I read John Grisham's 2009 novel The Associate. The drama revolves around the potential for corporate espionage involving a defense contractor and a futuristic space plane.

Fast forward to present day and the very same technology is everyday science news. DARPA just reported (with video) the results of last year's successful failed flight test.

I am very excited for the future of this project.

Record Freefall

Red Bull Stratos Project

In 1960 Joe Kittinger jumped out of a hot air balloon 102,800 ft above the earth. He was the test subject in the US Air Force's Project Excelsior. The successful skydive set a record that still has not been broken. 


The Stratos Project sponsored by Red Bull has been working to set a new record for a while and it looks like they will finally get their chance. The capsule is ready. 


I can't wait.   


Bonus: Wired has an explanation of the Physics involved with such an extreme skydive. 

the Rise of the Machines is nigh

Forget Zombies, the rise of the machines is upon us. Find John Connor and head for the Rockies!

Like the T1000, robots are mimicking living things

Like the Skynet drones, UAVs can swarm  

Germany has conducted the first flight of a manned electric multi-copter 

The other links make this orb UAV from Japan seem relatively boring 

Humans with wings

britannica.com

Modern human wings