Boeing delivered its first batch of all-new 787 Dreamliners this month, ushering in a new generation of commercial aircraft. The Dreamliner is more efficient and offers more passenger comfort than its predecessors, and it’s being dubbed as the “first new airplane of the 21st century” by Boeing execs. Boeing’s Dreamliner is unique because it’s lighter and faster than older planes, while offering greater fuel-efficiency. Its structure also sets it apart, as it’s composed largely of composite materials rather than sheets of aluminum. Travelers will benefit from the Dreamliner’s…

Lockheed has released conceptual images of a new aircraft inspired the Bar-tailed Godwit, a bird that makes the longest known non-stop flight without stopping to feed (7,258 miles to be exact). The Stratoliner concept is said to boast an equally impressive range thanks to its hydrogen-powered engines. The concept employs massive wings to generate gobs of lift, while its zero-emission engine system, comprised of four Cryogenic Hydrogen Turbofan engines, helps to maximize the Stratoliner’s range. Although Lockheed hasn’t given a specific distance, the company has said will be capable…

The future of aviation was on display at the recent Paris Air Show. Many concepts at the show featured super-fast speeds and low emissions, but one concept, the VoltAir, stood out for its zero-emission, all-electric propulsion technology. As powerful as it is efficient, the VoltAir will be powered by a pair of advanced li-ion batteries beneath its nose, which send power to a pair of co-axial, counter-rotating propellers shrouded at the rear of the aircraft. It’s expected to be far quieter than traditional combustion engine aircraft. Although its innovative propulsion system would radically…

AeroVironment Inc. is the nation’s largest provider of small drones, which are at the forefront of modern war tech. But the drive to make even stealthier vehicles for spy missions has led to the development of the battery-powered Nano Hummingbird. Specifically designed to look like a bird, the Nano Hummingbird is equipped with a camera and can hover and fly for about eight minutes. It has a full range of motion, and can fly sideways, backward and forward, as well as go clockwise and counterclockwise. “The historic achievement made by the Nano Hummingbird is an example of the leading-edge innovations…