The Skynest pods feature two sets of three bunk beds stacked in an outward-facing V formation, with curtains you can close for privacy. Measuring 80 inches by 23 inches, they’re long enough for most people to lie completely flat. They come with bedding, including pillows, sheets, and blankets, and each pod includes its own USBV outlet, reading light, and storage pocket. They’ll be installed at the very front of the rear economy cabin in Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 787-9s, which will service the airline’s long-haul routes to cities like New York and Chicago.

Because they can’t be occupied during takeoff and landing, the bunks can’t be booked for the entire flight. Instead, they’re available in four-hour windows, with the bedding changed in between each passenger. Passengers traveling on economy, premium economy, or economy stretch (seats with extra legroom) tickets can add their nap break onto their total much like they would extra baggage. The airline hasn’t yet revealed how much this feature will cost.

“New Zealand’s location puts us in a unique position to lead on the ultra-longhaul travel experience,” says Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. “We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort, and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested. Whether they are heading straight into a meeting, or to their first holiday hotspot — they want to hit the ground running. It’s a proud moment to finally unveil five years of hard mahi, in what truly is a cabin of possibility. One that will provide customers with options to get some shut eye wherever they’re sitting.”

The Skynest isn’t Air New Zealand’s only economy-class innovation. The Economy Skycouch is a row of seats you can change into a couch after takeoff, either by booking three seats in a row just for yourself, sharing with a partner, or cuddling your kids. The seats are the same as the rest in Economy, except you have a special footrest on each seat that you can lift halfway up to lounge or all the way up to create one big couch. It’s private,t oo, so you won’t end up sharing your Skycouch with a stranger.

Will big American airline companies like Delta, American Airlines, or United follow suit? It seems unlikely, but so did the prospect of this Skynest pod design ever actually becoming real. It was first unveiled in 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic started and seemed destined to remain a concept, especially as travel slowed to a crawl. Perhaps other airlines will find a way to make the numbers work in order to include similar features.

The post Air New Zealand Will Offer “Skynest” Sleep Pods to Economy Class Passengers first appeared on Dornob.

https://twitter.com/RUOligarchJets/status/1503389361907417094?cxt=HHwWjIC-uZmqjt0pAAAA

Updated every few hours, the Russian Oligarch Jets account publishes travel times and maps of the locations of private jets owned by some of Russia’s top billionaires, including Oleg Deripaska, Mihail Prokhorov, Roman Abramovich, Alisher Usmanov, Viktor Vekselberg, Alexander Abramov, and Leonid Mikhelson. The account, which has racked up over 400,000 followers, uses data scraped from publicly available air traffic information and a list of private jets and helicopters that was already being tracked by a blog called Radar Spots.

“I’m sure some people will try to kick some of these oligarchs out of the US or their country as they find out they’re here,” Sweeney told Euronews Next. “I don’t really expect much trouble since I’m here in the US.”

https://twitter.com/PutinJet/status/1503295525147361286?cxt=HHwWjIC-jZfU49wpAAAA

Sweeney is even tweeting the location of a jet suspected to be used by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin himself, but warns that the information may not be accurate because Putin uses several planes and flight data in Russia is hard to come by. Another account created by the American teenager, @RussiaYachts, tracks the superyachts owned by many of the same Russian oligarchs. That information is augmented by reports on yachts that have been seized, and locations of some yachts attempting to hide in friendly ports with their locator transmitters turned off.

The Biden Administration has released a fact sheet on United States government attempts to target Russian oligarchs enabling Putin’s invasion. “These individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people, and some have elevated their family members into high-ranking positions. Others sit atop Russia’s largest companies and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the U.S. financial system, their assets in the United States will be frozen and their property will be blocked from use.”

Alisher Usmanov is specifically mentioned as a close ally of Putin whose yacht was seized by Germany. The European Union, the UK, and others have also gone after the assets of Russia’s oligarchs, many of whom have placed most of their fortunes in assets located outside of Russia, including sports teams and real estate in cities like New York and London.

Sweeney previously drew international attention with a Twitter account tracking Elon Musk’s private jet, which Musk described as a “security risk.” In a direct message to Sweeney on Twitter, Musk said “I don’t love the idea of being shot by a nutcase,” and offered $5,000 to the teen in return for disabling the account. Sweeney counter-offered with $50,000 and an internship, but Musk never replied, and has since blocked him on Twitter. The account, @ElonJet, is still active, but appears to be thwarted by Musk’s efforts to hide his travels.

The post Teen Famous for Antagonizing Elon Musk is Now Tracking the Private Jets of Russian Oligarchs first appeared on Dornob.

Air France

The Paris-based airline recently renovated its La Première lounge at the Charles de Gaulle Airport to give first-class passengers their own separate check-in area. On board, a policy update now gives single guests the freedom to book all four suites in the La Première section for maximum privacy and room. The first-class showers have also been updated, and the in-flight meals on routes departing from CDG are getting the celebrity treatment from now until October, with three-time Michelin star chef Arnaud Donckele preparing them all. Air France aircraft with La Première sections are currently flying from Paris to Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

British Airways

The company, headquartered in London, recently installed more socially distanced pods in the first-class area of its Boeing 777-300ER jets. Each roomy seat now features a sliding door that can provide greater privacy and germ-protection. The upgraded seats also got updated infotainment screens and longer padded cushions and beds.

Emirates

For those missing the flying experience but still squeamish about sharing germs in an enclosed space, Dubai-based Emirates is offering a virtual reality tour of its first-class section. Using the Oculus VR app, grounded flyers can “walk” around the spacious seats and head down to the Onboard Lounge. Future versions are expected to allow customers to explore destinations, select a cabin, and even book their flight within the VR app.

For those who are ready to take to the skies, the Emirates A380 planes still offer a true extravagance at 35,000 feet, complete with two “shower spas” (a full shower/powder room with heated floors) in each first-class area.

Qatar Airways

Qatar recently announced that it will be bringing its double-decker Airbus 380 back as of November 2021 in anticipation of pent-up demand for holiday travel. The mammoth aircraft is the only jet in the company’s fleet that offers both first and business-class seating. It also features a walk-up bar for premium customers.

Singapore Airlines

After having restored the Los Angeles to Tokyo route earlier this year, Singapore Airlines just announced the addition of its New York to Frankfurt flight path, welcome news to those looking to enjoy transatlantic travel in their own mini-hotel room. The company’s posh first-class suites include ultra-long 6-foot 10-inch beds, with two flatscreens and a small chair and desk on the side. The suite can be full enclosed when the door slides shut.

Virgin Atlantic

The first-class unit on Virgin’s soon-to-be-released “leisure fleet” of Airbus 350-1000 planes will include a new social space called “The Booth,” an intimate lounge-style seating for two with a small single leaf table in the middle. The London-based company’s traditional A350 airliners already include a larger lounge facility named “The Loft,” which itself boasts several booths and a large screen for entertainment.

Now that so many first-class routes are back in action, the only question for those ready to fly in style is “where to?”

The post As International Air Travel Resumes, the First-Class Experience Gets an Update first appeared on Dornob.

That fact is evidenced by the popularity of various flight-themed adventures offered in 2020. Back in July, the Taipei Songshan Airport furnished passengers with “a flight to nowhere,” complete with check-in, security, and boarding procedures for a seat on a grounded plane. With only 60 seats available, more than 7,000 people applied. Companies like EVA Air followed suit with sky-view sight-seeing treks that typically sold out in minutes.

When Australian airline Quantas started selling its excess business class pajamas, nostalgic flyers snapped up all 10,000 pieces within hours.

And of course there was the viral TikTok video of a dad who missed flying so much that he purchased a pair of First Class Delta plane seats and installed them in his living room. He’d also buckle his seat belt, pull out the safety information card, and listen to sounds of turbulence to fully recreate the flying vibes.

The latest air travel-simulating contribution is a view that can turn your workspace into a jet cabin. The Sky Scape digital airplane window looks just like the real thing with a plastic frame and faux shade handle, while the 22-inch high-resolution display provides a circulating view of takeoff, in-flight clouds views, and landing scenes. The atmospheric light in the ultra-realistic picture also cycles between sunrise and sunset, providing both brilliant blues skies and deep purple vistas.

A joint effort from Japanese companies Joled Inc., an OLED screen maker, and LandSkip Inc., a digital display and installation firm, the Sky Scape window was actually under development long before the coronavirus struck. The timing of its release turned out to be serendipitous. Originally designed to be another relaxation tool in the LandSkip arsenal of digital landscape offerings, it now offers a way to soothe socially-distanced employees in their cubicles or home offices.

“I’ve found that it really helps with concentration,” says LandSkip Chief Executive Officer Kazuki Shimomura. “Time passes in a very productive way.”

Joled, a company formed in 2015 when Sony and Panasonic merged their organic light-emitting diode technology (OLED) divisions, saw this project as a way to make their tech more accessible to individuals.

“We wanted to get our panels into the hands of many users while enhancing their value,” says Masayuki Ono, Joled’s Director of Business Development.

For those interested in looking down on the clouds during the workday, the Sky Scape will be available to rent on a subscription-style basis and will be less than the $290 charged for the LandSkip’s larger displays typically installed in hotels and hospitals.

And for those who still find air trips stress-inducing, the companies have also produced the more earthy Terra Bonsai, a digital display of the traditional manicured Japanese tree. A symbol of being in harmony with nature, the tree moves through the stages of the seasons: budding spring pink blossoms, lush summer foliage, falling auburn leaves, and snow-covered branches. The dark background surrounding the ethereal floating Bonsai morphs serenely from fluttering butterflies to a peaceful koi pond.

The post Travel-Deprived Frequent Flyers Can Get Their Fix with Digital Airplane Window Screens first appeared on Dornob.

“This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole, and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen. The concepts we unveil today offer the world a glimpse of our ambition to drive a bold vision for the future of zero-emissions flight,” says Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO on the company website, adding that he “strongly believes that the use of hydrogen — both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft — has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact.”

The conceptual fleet includes models that can navigate both short and long-distance aviation. The turbofan design will have a 200-passenger capacity with a range of up to 2,000 nautical miles, allowing for transcontinental travel. Powered by a modified gas-turbine combustion hydrogen engine, the liquid fuel will be stored in tanks behind the rear pressure bulkhead. The turboprop plane, on the other hand, will hold up to 100 passengers and travel roughly 1,000 nautical miles, making it ideal for shorter flights.

The futuristic-looking blended-wing body ZEROe has a range and passenger capacity similar to the turbofan archetype, but with wings that merge directly onto the main aircraft, the possibilities for power-source storage and cabin layout become truly revolutionary.

Airbus believes that hydrogen is the solution to the fossil fuel pollution caused by carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other dangerous chemicals currently being jettisoned into the atmosphere by air traffic. Other environmentally-friendly technologies have failed to get off the ground. For instance, after exploring electric battery options for smaller craft, Airbus still found hydrogen more feasible.

“Our experience with batteries shows us that battery technology is not moving at the pace we want,” says Glenn Llewellyn, vice president of zero-emissions aircraft at Airbus. “This is where hydrogen comes in: it’s got several thousand times more energy-per-kilogram than what batteries could have today.” That science has recently proved viable, with startup ZeroAvia pulling off the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered flight of a commercial-grade airplane over England in September.

There are three ways this alternative material can be used to create power: it can be converted into electric energy with fuel cells; it can be combusted through a modified gas turbine; and it can be combined with CO2 to produce synthetic kerosene. It does bring some baggage with it, though. Namely, while hydrogen is an abundant resource plentiful in oceans, lakes, and the surrounding atmosphere, it often needs to be separated from oxygen using electrolyzers. These machines are expensive and few in number today, although demand has been growing over the past decade.

Hydrogen hits another bit of technical turbulence because it takes up five times as much volume as today’s jet fuel, making storage difficult. And of course, safety concerns will have to be resolved (think the 1937 Hindenburg explosion). There’s also the challenge of getting the industry at large to eventually adopt hydrogen technologies. Things like transport, on-site production, and refueling infrastructure will all be needed to make it a practical path forward.

Airbus remains optimistic. “The transition to hydrogen, as the primary power source for these concept planes, will require decisive action from the entire aviation ecosystem,” CEO Faury says. “Together with the support from government and industrial partners we can rise up to this challenge to scale-up renewable energy and hydrogen for the sustainable future of the aviation industry.”

The post Airbus Readies Zero-Emissions “Space-Age” Planes for 2035 Take-Off first appeared on Dornob.

Before you dig out your company checkbook, you might need a reality check on the chances of owning one. Even the cheapest selection in the lot is priced at just under $100 million. If you prefer the zeros, that looks like $100,000,000 for the base model, so it’s pretty safe to say that not many of us can afford one of these tricked-out flyers.

While Boeing focuses on the aircraft’s structural and mechanical components, the interior design duties are typically hired out so the owner can personalize their jet to their liking. In the case of the Genesis concept for the 737 Max private jet, the futuristic interior was put together by Argentina’s SkyStyle, and it’s a design that’s truly out of this world.

With little more than a glance, any visitor will note that this is not your typical corporate jet laid out with neutral-tone oversized seats. No, the 737 Max interior looks more like it just flew out of the Star Trek production studio, making ample use of curved lines to draw the eye from one end of its interiors to the other. Integrated LED lights further enhance this space-age design. There are even lights on the ceiling that resemble a starry sky.

But this is more than just a pretty cabin with all the comforts a jet owner could want. In fact, there are five passenger compartments in here, including a galley for cooking, a dining area, a living room, an office space, and a master bedroom complete with a king-sized bed and wardrobe. When it comes to washing, gone is the cramped lavatory, replaced by a spacious bathroom and full-size shower.

Innovative design is the central component of a vehicle like this, not only in terms of the engine and controls, but also in terms of its furnishings. One example is the strategically placed pillars within that serve as removable dividers whenever a passenger needs a bit of separation from others. In fact, the Genesis design concept excels in creating abundant space, especially when you consider the fact that its cabin was originally designed to hold hundreds of passengers. Some surfaces even serve multiple functions, like the countertop on the kitchen island that can be lifted and moved onto the dining table at any time for simplified serving.

SkyStyle co-founder Max Pardo explained in a press release that “from an aviation designer’s perspective, the BBJ Max is incredibly appealing because there is so much more interior space to realize one’s vision. Since the Max flies ultra-long distances, the owners are looking for a comfortable lounge, multi-function conference area, and a large master suite.”

As cool as the concept is, the idea will likely be grounded considering the entire fleet of Boeing Max jets are out of commission indefinitely. However, the design elements could always be applied to past-generation 737s, just in case you happen to have an extra one hanging around.

The post The Design Concept for the New Boeing 737 Max Jet is Out of This World first appeared on Dornob.

Moscow’s Khodynka Field has a long and storied history that began in the 14th century as a battlefield and host of state occasions. It’s best known as the site of the first Russian-powered flight in 1910, and a regular airfield in use through the late 1980s. Its most recent redevelopment includes the Russian National Air & Space Museum, as well as many new commercial and residential buildings. Tucked among them is Café Polet, a new restaurant designed to pay tribute to the site’s aviation history.

Set within the old Frunze Central Aerodrome, which closed in 2003, Café Polet shows off its history in references both subtle and direct almost everywhere you look. New York-based studio Asthetique has created stunning retro-futuristic interiors full of aeronautical nods with distinctive Soviet flair. There’s something dramatic to see at every turn, from bubble-shaped porthole windows at the entrance to blocky winged statues reminiscent of USSR monuments and early sci-fi films clinging to the columns all throughout.

“The idea was to take aeronautics beyond the machine level, to show humans taking flight,” says Asthetique founder and creative director Julien Albertini in Interior Design magazine. Similarly, the entry’s striped concrete floor is modeled on the markings of airport runways, “taking the idea of a landing strip, but then modernizing it.”

Against the textural concrete walls leans a jagged mountainous landscape of black birch wood paneling punctuated by shiny chrome doors, recalling the Russian Constructivism artistic and architectural philosophy of the early 20th century. Lighting hangs from flying saucer-like copper discs, some set at jaunty angles.

Within the second dining room, a bas-relief panel of plaster-coated plywood creates a striking sculptural effect on the wall. Monochromatic murals depict space travel imagery like astronauts lounging on the moon. Of all the stylistic choices, the most literal stands out as the most fun: tiny back-lit stainless steel airplane silhouettes dotting various surfaces.

Softer elements come into play, too, balancing all of the brutish materials and geometries. Metal screens covered in trailing green ivy separate the dining spaces. The chairs and banquettes are upholstered in soft velvet in shades of gray, beige, and blush. The designers consciously chose pastels to complement the otherwise neutral color scheme, infusing the restaurant with a sense of calm.

Cafe Polet is located at #2 Khodinskiy Blvd, offering a menu of European and Georgian dishes crafted by chef Aleksandr Airapetyan, with recent standouts including a salad of grilled squid, smoked baby potatoes, and truffle mayonnaise.

The post Moscow’s Café Polet Celebrates the Retro-Fabulous Look of Soviet Aviation first appeared on Dornob.

If more airlines have to adapt to low flight loads and more frequent deep disinfecting schedules, how might the actual design of planes change? A company called Avio Interiors has envisioned two new seating concepts that are sure to be welcomed by anyone who’s ever wished for more separation from their fellow passengers.

The “Janus Seat” is particularly intriguing. Inspired by the two-faced god of ancient Rome, this proposal alternates forward and backward-facing seats in a single row to eliminate the dreaded problem of being smashed into a middle seat. All three seats in the row get more privacy, though you’re now facing the middle seat passenger in the next row up, albeit at a diagonal angle.

The aim is to “ensure the maximum isolation between passengers seated next to each other,” say the designers. “So ‘Janus’ is a two-faced seat, in fact this arrangement allows all three passengers to be separated with a shield made of transparent material that isolates them from each other, creating a protective barrier for everyone. Each passenger has [their] own space isolated from others, even from people who walk through the aisle.”

The second concept, “Glassafe,” takes the same high barrier and places it between passengers sitting in a more conventional forward-facing seat arrangement. The benefit of this one is that it can be quickly and easily added on to existing airplane seating, so it doesn’t require expensive retrofits.

The Avio team adds that “‘Glassafe’ is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light, but perfectly fulfill[s] the objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger, so as to reduce the probability of contamination by viruses or other. ‘Glassafe’ can be supplied in opaque material or with different degrees of transparency, all [of which facilitate] easy cleaning and [are] suitable for safe hygienization.”

It’s probably safe to say more passengers would prefer the “Janus,” except perhaps those traveling with children or wanting to sit side-by-side with a companion. But both ideas are an improvement over current seating, which prioritizes the airlines’ bottom line over the comfort and safety of passengers.

Lots of great designs have been proposed over the years to improve legroom, widen seats, and otherwise ease increasingly cramped airplane conditions, but it’s never been in airlines’ best interests to make the switch. In fact, some have even been considering outrageous new ways to pack more people in, like leaning or standing areas instead of seats. But ensuring that passengers feel safe on flights is going to be key to reviving the flagging industry, which has already cut its capacity by up to 90 percent in recent months.

The post In the Wake of COVID-19, Airlines are Experimenting with Safer Seating Concepts first appeared on Dornob.

For Vince Reffet, making that dream come true drives him every day. At 35 years old, the young French jetpack pilot has been setting new records with his friend and partner Frédéric Fugenk since 2000. He recently set a new altitude record for Jetman Dubai in a jet-powered wingsuit, ascending to 6,000 feet from a standing start.

Groundbreaking Start

On February 14th, 2020, Reffet, a protégé of renowned jet daredevil Yves Rossy, made history when he stepped onto the runway at Skydive Dubai and soared at an average speed of almost 150 mph to an altitude of almost 6,000 feet in a little over 30 seconds. This was the first time a Jetman pilot took to the air from the ground rather than an elevated stand.

The Trip

Reffet, sporting a carbon-fiber suit, moved at an average speed of 150 mph, reaching a height of 100 meters in eight seconds. His elevation rose to 200m in 12 seconds, 500m in 19 seconds, and in 30 seconds he was soaring at 1,000m. When Reffet was nearly 6,000 feet (1,800m) off the ground, he celebrated the feat with a roll and a loop, released his parachute at 4,921 feet (1,500m), and touched down at Skydive Dubai after an approximate three-minute journey.

Looking Forward

The Jetman team announced that the next goal is to complete a safe landing without a parachute, but reaching that goal is a formidable challenge. To achieve this latest feat, Reffet went airborne at least 50 times and performed over 100 takeoffs and landings, all with a protective fall capture system in place to ensure his safety. Reffet’s wingsuit is currently power-driven by four mini jet engines and includes a hand-controlled thrust power nozzle that enables pilots to be in command of rotations around a vertical axis at zero speed — but a parachute-free landing might require even more safety equipment and additional pilot-control features.

Reffet was excited and proud of reaching this most recent milestone, saying: “We are so happy we achieved this incredible flight. It’s the result of extremely thorough teamwork, where each small step generated huge results. Everything was planned to the split second, and I was overjoyed by the progress that was achieved.”

A press release from Jetman Dubai stated: “It is the first time that a Jetman Dubai pilot could combine hovering safely at a limited altitude and flying aerobatics at high altitude in the same flight. Controlled from the ground by the human body, the equipment enables Jetman Dubai to reach speeds of 400 km/h, as well as hover, change direction, and perform loops.”

From this point on, the only way to go is up.

The post Jetpack Pilot Vince Reffet Soars to New Heights In Dubai first appeared on Dornob.

New York City-based architecture and design firm Stonehill Taylor aims to bring that feeling back at the TWA Hotel. The only in-airport hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the TWA makes use of the head house of the TWA Flight Center airline terminal, designed in 1962 by renowned architect Eero Saarinen. The terminal was preciously declared a city landmark in 1994, which protected it from demolition even as other parts of the airport were knocked down and renovated around it.

The building itself already had the iconic look of air travel from yesteryear. Stonehill Taylor was brought in to infuse the guest rooms, Sunken Lounge, Connie cocktail lounge, and other public spaces with that same flair, simultaneously updating them for modern sensibilities. The design team took inspiration from the year 1962, the first time an American was able to circle the Earth and a time when aviation was “the promise of the future” signifying the beginning of a new era.

Outfitted in period-appropriate furnishings, the guest rooms enjoy views of the tarmac. There’s definitely something Mad Men about them, but you’re not entering a time warp. The vintage details that accent each space feel tasteful rather than forced, and the inclusion of TWA-branded toiletries in the bathrooms is fun.

But the standout is definitely the cocktail lounge set in the vintage Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A Starliner, which features refurbished vintage airplane seats in cherry red, banquette seating, and what the architects describe as a “reveal moment,” when guests can see the plane’s original interior frame encased in glass. The cockpit is also visible, restored with authentic controls and switches.

The firm explains that “by offering a modern refuge with a thoughtful, strong sense of design and space, the rooms are meant to make guests feel the same appreciation and excitement for aviation that travelers once felt during the rise of the industry.”

“Set back on either side of Eero Saarinen’s iconic TWA Flight Center, two newly built wings designed by architects Beyer Blinder Belle and Lubrano Ciavarra house the 512 guest rooms. Sixties-inspired elements include select Saarinen-designed Knoll furnishings, a martini bar, a vintage rotary phone, and gleaming terrazzo tiles in the bathroom with Hollywood-style vanities. The rooms have a crisp white palette accented with warm walnut elements and brushed brass.”

They add that “custom furnishings and lighting, like the wood trim, which follows along the ceiling edge and softly illuminates the room, [reference] midcentury design. In many of the rooms, beds are positioned to let guests enjoy the exciting rhythm of the runway or the glory of Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center.”

The TWA Hotel officially opened in May 2019, and rates are quite reasonable, currently running between $160 and $200 per night.

The post Stonehill Taylor Designs Retro Air Travel-Inspired Interiors for the TWA Hotel first appeared on Dornob.

Start with your own paper airplane, which could be made of paper, card stock, cardboard, balsa wood, or foam. Then attach the POWERUP module, which is connected to a pair of propellers, to the tip. This module also contains an onboard flight computer with autopilot, gyro accelerometer, flight telemetry, and night flight abilities, allowing you to control the airplane remotely with your smartphone.

The creators of the POWERUP just released version 4.0 of their design, adding some new features to their previous kit.

They explain: “POWERUP 4.0 is the smartest, most intuitive paper plane kit we’ve ever made. It makes it possible to fly with ease and smoothness in a variety of conditions. Say goodbye to nosedives and choppy flights. We’ve added a new on-board flight computer and two new sensors: gyro and accelerometer, combined with two thrust vectoring motors.”

“That means flying POWERUP 4.0 is smoother than ever, and can now do all this: easier aerobatics (master impressive tricks with ease), wind stabilizer (so you can fly in windy conditions), launch assist (even bad launches will recover and fly), and auto stabilizer (so even your lopsided folding technique flies remarkably). That’s right. POWERUP 4.0 can auto-loop. So you can master tricks and awesome aerobatics by simply pressing a button. We’ve [also] added two high-speed motors to POWERUP 4.0. That means you’ve got double the thrust, additional maneuvering possibilities, and sharper turns. And together with the flight assist, you can fly just about anything.”

Adding flight telemetry and stats to the package means you can “learn to fly like a pro” using real-time analytics like heading direction, thrust level, and turning angles. You can even download your flight data to optimize your techniques.

Optional LED lights make it easy (and fun) to fly the POWERUP 4.0 at night, and don’t worry: the soft front bumper of the onboard computer will protect it if you accidentally fly it into a wall or the ground. The POWERUP even gives your paper airplane its own landing gear in the form of two rear wheels and one front wheel, making it possible to launch off a surface instead of using your hands.

The whole thing weighs just 19 grams, and it takes 25 minutes to charge using a micro USB, with a wireless range of up to 230 feet. If there’s one caveat, it’s the fact that you only get 10 minutes of flight time per charge.

Sure, you could get any number of drones or flying gadgets that don’t require you to build any of the components yourself. But participating in the creative process is part of the fun, and it’s a great skill to encourage kids to learn. That makes it a great gift for any budding engineers in your life.

“This adds a layer of fun and wonder to the project, yet it also adds an additional challenge because students are adding an engine and a power source that must be balanced on their plane’s design,” says Mark Gerl, Director of Innovation at the Fulton Academy for Science and Technology.

The POWERUP 4.0 just completed a round of crowdfunding on Kickstarter, raising over $1 million USD to go into production. The kit will be available to the public at a retail price of $129 sometime next year.

The post Power Up Your Paper Airplanes With This High-Tech Flight Kit first appeared on Dornob.

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Due to the high safety standards of the aviation industry, even minor damage to certain parts is enough grounds for them to be scrapped. Rather than allow these pieces to be stripped and broken down in a scrap yard, Craviations takes them and worsens the damage to make them all more distinctive. Their aviation-inspired creations offer a certain charm to those who love planes and unique furniture.

For over two decades, Mike and Carolynn Rancourt have been running an aircraft structural repair company in Eastern Ontario, close to the Canadian capital of Ottawa. M.R. Airframe Ltd. fixes many types of aircraft, from helicopters to small airplanes and even large passenger models. They also make flight training devices and specialized equipment for machinists and technicians in the industry. Their years of experience and depth of knowledge regarding materials like titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fibers, and honeycomb panels have given them countless ideas for unique furniture pieces.

Their first transformation was that of a helicopter-airframe-turned-bunk-bed. It can be placed over an existing queen bed, or the space under it can be utilized as a desk area. The user climbs into bed on a horizontal stabilizer placed at the back with slats that have been punched through to create small steps. The cockpit contains storage — and space for a monitor so kids can play their favorite video games.

When Craviations displays their products at design events and furniture expos (like they did in January 2019 at the Interior Design Show in Toronto), they usually attract visitors pulled in by curiosity. People are especially drawn to the Radome Lounger, which comes from the nose of a British Aerospace 146 and the aft section of a Canadian-made helicopter. It’s not the most comfortable chair you’ll ever sit it, but it is one of the most unique seats you’ll probably ever see. The mechanical aesthetic of other pieces, such as a turbine engine coffee table with cast metal and titanium sheeting, is charming for its simplicity. The helicopter gaming station, which can also be made into part of the bunk bed, is a quirky play space that would make a dream hideaway for any child.

Craviations have created many types of furniture and home accessories in the past, each with its own unique character. They make desks from landing gears, gear-top bar tables, sheet metal love seats, horizontal stabilizer coffee tables, main rotor blade candle holders, aft-section bird cage stands, gear transmission clocks, and polished aluminum benches. Regardless of the part or material, if it used to fly but has been permanently grounded, Craviations will find a way to keep it in use.

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The Allosky

Described as having a “cinematic field of view,” the Allosky VR headset is equipped with 1080p per-eye resolution to ensure a high-quality, high-fidelity experience whilst in-flight. VR allows for a far more immersive experience than any other form of standard in-flight entertainment, fully immersing the passenger in whatever whimsical world they choose to enter.

VR headsets can transport you to anywhere you want to be, from a comfortable virtual living room to a first class movie-theater. Pair that with with a killer set of noise-cancelling earphones, and it seems like the user could almost forget that they were even on a plane in the first place! This would be especially beneficial to those who normally get sick or anxious from flying. The headset boasts 2D, 3D, and 180-degree viewing capabilities, is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ready, and can freely adjust its focus to accommodate all levels of eyesight.

Everything you need to enjoy the Allosky is already integrated into the headset, which means no external batteries or hard drives are necessary. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor is responsible for the headset’s high-resolution displays, and while the battery may last only a few hours at a time on it’s own, it can be run indefinitely off the plane’s power in this case. Still, the device is generally portable and ultra light, weighing less than the tablets most airlines currently use for in-flight entertainment. Multiply that weight difference by a couple hundred, and you start to see how the headsets could even be helping the airline save money and burn less fuel.

Currently, the headset has access to content from DreamWorks, Lionsgate, National Geographic, BBC, 20th Century Fox, Baobab, Warner Brothers, and many other companies, offering everything from world-class TV series and Hollywood blockbusters to documentaries and ambient visual displays for the passengers’ enjoyment. The Allosky is set to launch on some of the longest transcontinental flights in the United States (including those from Boston to San Diego and Boston to Seattle), giving it a chance to prove that it can really keep people immersed for the long haul.

The Allosky is going to be a great way for Alaska Airlines to differentiate itself from its competitors, and as the first airline to trial a virtual reality experience, it’s sure sure to expose a ton of unsuspecting passengers to a piece of technology they’d only ever heard whispers of before. The future really is exciting!

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Simple, streamlined and made to last for years on end, the iconic airplane aisle beverage cart hasn’t changed much in the last few decades, and now its design has been applied to a space-saving portable closet solution for the home.

While the perks and aesthetics of air travel have undeniably gone downhill since their glamorous heyday in the ‘60s, and most contemporary elements of airplane design aren’t exactly inspirational, the beverage cart is simply an item that still works, all these years later. Taking a cue from its multi-functionality and lack of unnecessary frills, designer Christiaan Bakker and Studio Knol teamed up to create the ‘Trolleys Closet.’

Working with Dutch airline KLM, the designers built a cubic wooden structure full of drawers, compartments, slide-out parts and other storage solutions along with stainless steel buckles and handles. The design sort of stretches and warps the original slim-line cart, pulling it out in various directions and adding shelves to create a geometric silhouette that’s all wood-grain lines and wheels when set against a white backdrop. While originally envisioned as a closet, the trolley has various flat surfaces and storage areas that would also make for a practical and dynamic addition to an office, art studio or even the kitchen. The casters make it easy to roll it from one room to the next if you want to switch functions, or just tuck it out of the way when not in use.

Made of poplar and oak, the trolley is designed to accommodate more than a closet-load of personal belongings and can also be customized in size and color to complement your decorating scheme and storage needs. Clothes can be folded and placed inside the drawers, with an outfit or two hung on the small rack that protrudes from one end. Shallow drawers offer space for jewelry and other accessories. Open the latches to reveal trunk-like spaces that recall old-fashioned travel aesthetics, back when travelers packed nearly everything they owned into large hard-sided boxes on wheels to get around via trains.

While this thing isn’t exactly going to fit down the aisle of an airplane anytime soon (especially now that airlines are packing as many seats as they can onto each plane), it does draw from the concept of the urban nomad, packing all of one’s carefully edited belongings into portable containers that double as furniture. This motif is becoming increasingly common as city living grows more popular among young people, and urban apartments grow smaller to make up for all of the extra residents streaming in.

There’s definitely a trend toward nomadic lifestyles, as many people are moving from one place to another in short spans of time rather than settling down in their twenties and remaining in a single home for most of their lives. Instead of the sort of heavy antique furniture that would often stay in place for generations, we’re seeing lightweight pieces that are made to move, like furniture that disassembles in seconds for transport. In this case, you wouldn’t even have to box up your things, as they’re already in containers that are ready to be loaded onto a truck.

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(via: Wired)

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