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01 / 05
First-Ever Electric Air Taxi Flight Takes off in NYC

BBC | Air Transport

First-Ever Electric Air Taxi Flight Takes off in NYC

“Joby Aviation unveiled how the future of all-electric aviation could look like during a test flight in Manhattan.

The fast and quiet ride service could be available as soon as 2025, according to plans between Joby Aviation and the US Federal Aviation Administration. It would be the first service of its kind in the US.”

From BBC.

Axios | Air Transport

Passenger Jet Prototype Breaks Speed of Sound

“A prototype of a passenger jet designed to succeed the supersonic Concorde broke the sound barrier for the first time on Tuesday above the Mojave Desert in California.

Why it matters: Exceeding Mach 1 speed — 770 miles per hour — is an important milestone in the quest by Boom Supersonic, a Denver-based startup, to resurrect high-speed air travel 22 years after the Concorde retired.”

From Axios.

Live Science | Air Transport

XB-1 Passenger Plane 1 Step Away from Breaking the Sound Barrier

“The unofficial successor to Concorde is one step closer to reality after Boom Supersonic marked the 11th successful test flight of its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft.

On Jan. 10, the XB-1 completed a sustained flight at 728 mph (1,172 km/h) — equivalent to Mach 0.95, which is just shy of the speed of sound.

The test was conducted at a height of 29,481 feet (8,986 meters); while the aircraft flew at this speed in its 10th test, that test was at a much higher altitude and therefore a lower air pressure.

By flying so fast, so low in the latest test, the XB-1 achieved a record 383 knots equivalent airspeed — indicative of incredibly high dynamic air pressure. The aircraft will never experience such intense conditions again even when it finally breaks the sound barrier, as its in-service flights will take place at much higher altitudes where the air is thinner, company representatives said in a statement.

Putting the aircraft under this strain at transonic speed, just below the speed of sound, demonstrates the robust quality of its airframe and proves it will remain controllable at higher speeds.”

From Live Science.

Our World in Data | Air Transport

US Airlines Have Traveled Light-Years Since the Last Plane Crash

“The last time a US airline crashed was on February 12, 2009, in New York State. Fifty people died.

How far have US airlines carried passengers since February 2009? According to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, US airline customers traveled 13.3 trillion passenger miles since then. ‘Passenger miles’ are a straightforward way to account for both the number of passengers and the distance they travel. A single passenger mile represents one person traveling one mile. So, five people traveling ten miles would sum to 50 passenger miles.

13.3 trillion miles is a lot! It’s equivalent to 535 million trips around the Earth or 28 million visits to the moon and back.

It is such a long distance that it is not unreasonable to measure it in light-years. One light-year is the distance light travels over one year — 5.9 trillion miles. So, the total distance traveled without a crash equals 2.3 light-years.”

From Our World in Data.

Axios | Air Transport

Archer Inks Deal to Bring Electric Air Taxis to Japan

“Archer Aviation will supply as many as 100 electric aircraft to a Japanese company aiming to launch air taxi services in some of Japan’s busiest cities.

Why it matters: Japan could be a significant market for electric air taxis, another indication that the emerging advanced air mobility industry is getting closer to reality.”

From Axios.