How Airplanes Work

Human flight has become a tired fact of modern life. At any given moment, roughly 5,000 airplanes crisscross the skies above the United States alone, amounting to an estimated 64 million commercial and private takeoffs every year.Consider the rest of the world's flight activity, and the grand total is incalculable.

It is easy to take the physics of flight for granted, as well as the ways in which we exploit them to achieve flight. We often glimpse a plane in the sky with no greater understanding of the principles involved than a caveman.

How do these heavy machines take to the air? To answer that question, we have to enter the world of fluid mechanics.

Physicists classify both liquids and gases as fluids, based on how they flow. Even though air, water and pancake syrup may seem like very different substances, they all conform to the same set of mathematical relationships. In fact, basic aerodynamic tests are sometimes performed underwater. To put it simply, a salmon essentially flies through the sea, and a pelican swims through the air.

The core of the matter is this: Even a clear sky isn't empty. Our atmosphere is a massive fluid layer, and the right application of physics makes it possible for humans to traverse it.

Electric Aircraft - Future of Air Travel...

One of the biggest expenses in operating an aircraft is the fuel bill. This is really high at the moment with the price of aviation gasoline the same as the fuel for your car. The other repetitive expense is the cost of maintenance for the engine. So what if you do without an engine and buy a glider? Well, you still have to get it into the air by towing or winching and there is a lot of dependence on the wind for the timing and length of your flight.

But, the answer may have been found to these problems with the aircraft that made its debut at the Air Venture show at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is the Electra Flyer-C which has the flying attributes of a glider combined with the power of an electric motor to launch and power the flight. The motor runs from a Lithium Battery which then drives a 45 inch diameter propeller. With a top speed of 90 MPH and a cruise of 75 MPH this compares well with other small single engined aircraft. The duration of up to 2 hours is low but as this is a new technology the battery and motor efficiency will no doubt be improved and better endurance will result. A full charge can be done in as little as 2 hours and the manufacturer thinks it will cost of 60 cents on your power bill. The other saving is there is little maintenance compared to the traditional piston engine.

So, if you are interested in being on the cutting edge of 'green' flying visit their site and learn more about this innovative technology. If commuting is not for you then how about the Sky Spark? This low wing twin seat battery powered aircraft holds the speed record of 250 Km/hr! Now that will be the one to have when you are late for the office. Of course if there is no rush then the Solar impulse would be the one to choose. This aircraft has 11,000 solar cells which charge lithium polymer batteries, these in turn power the electric motor and the 11 foot diameter propeller. Although not fast it is able to sustain long flights with a 24 hour flight on solar powered batteries on 8th July 2010. The aircraft is planning to circumnavigate the world in 2012.

So get with the program and go green.
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