Inventors have revealed what the world’s largest commercial* hybrid* aeroplane could look like.
The 70-seater jet is powered by a mixture of eco-friendly electricity and jet fuel, and is “whisper-quiet” overhead.
It’s called HERA, which stands for hybrid electric regional aircraft.
And it has a total range of 1480km, which is a little over the distance from Adelaide to Sydney (1367km).
However, inventors at Bristol-based Electric Aviation Group (EAG) in the UK say improvements to battery technology could extend this to 2222km after 2030.
Importantly, the aircraft can carry 70 passengers, which is difficult with an all-electric alternative.
That’s because bigger batteries means fewer passengers, due to the additional size and weight.
By combining a lithium-ion battery (similar to those found in smartphones and laptops and used to store power from sunlight on the International Space Station) with regular jet fuel, it’s possible to strike a balance to seat dozens of passengers.
EAG boss Kamran Iqbal said a hybrid is the best way to meet both environmental goals and make an aeroplane that is big enough to be practical.
“These small planes (that are fully electric) cannot meet the demands of mass air transportation or the requirements of decarbonisation*.”
The HERA craft is expected to be quiet so as to reduce noise pollution by as much as 65 per cent.
And it’s claimed that the aircraft will reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxide* by as much as 90 per cent.
EAG hopes to use the aircraft to ferry passengers during the day and deliver cargo on short night flights to suit the limited range.
The aircraft is still being developed, but EAG claims to have filed 25 patents* for the design.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently tasked UK aerospace experts with creating the world’s first zero-emission* long-haul jet, dubbed “Jet Zero”.
However, EAG’s aircraft isn’t strictly zero-emission, due to the use of traditional jet fuel.
HERA is expected to be ready for use in 2028.
This story was first published on The Sun and is republished here with permission.
MAVERIC ON THE WAY
European company Airbus unveiled a futuristic* new design for an aeroplane at the Singapore Airshow earlier this year.
It is called Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovate Controls, or Maveric, and looks completely different to traditional, tube-shaped aeroplanes.
The model showed how what is called a “blended-wing” design, a concept used mainly in military aircraft, would look like for commercial planes.
Airbus began the Maveric project in 2017 and began tests on a small remote-controlled version last year.
The wings would be mounted on top of the plane at the back, rather than under the wings.
Designers believe the blended-wing shape will reduce fuel consumption by allowing air to flow more freely over the plane when it is flying.
The US military uses a similar shape in its B-2 Spirit stealth-bomber aircraft.
GLOSSARY
- commercial: to make money, such as by carrying passengers or freight, rather than for fun or for the military
- hybrid: a cross between two things
- decarbonisation: reducing how much carbon an activity puts into the atmosphere
- nitrogen oxide: a gas that is part of air pollution
- patents: legal right to develop, make and sell a design
- zero emission: means zero carbon emissions, or not putting any more carbon into the atmosphere than your activity can absorb from the atmosphere
- futuristic: like something from the future
EXTRA READING
Hypersonic jet to fly New York-London in two hours
NASA’s incredible supersonic jet surprise
Hindenburg Zeppelin, end of the airship era
Flying cars preparing to take off in Australia
QUICK QUIZ
- What is the hybrid plane called? What does this stand for?
- Why do the designers believe a hybrid plane is a good idea?
- Give the acronym for Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovate Controls.
- Why would a blended-wing design be better for the environment?
- What does the B-2 have to do with this new plane?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Paper Plane Models
Using the images of these new aeroplane designs as your inspiration, use some A4 paper to construct a paper version of these new types of planes. Then make a traditional paper plane and compare which flies better. What other design features could you suggest to save fuel?
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: Design and Technologies
2. Extension
Why is it important to develop these new zero-emission aircraft?
What sort of pollution do these big jets give off?
Would you make the decision to fly more or less based on the effects of the environment?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Read with Kung Fu Punctuation
Pair up with the article between you and stand up to make it easy to demonstrate your Kung Fu Punctuation.
Practice reading one sentence at a time. Now read it again, while acting out the punctuation as you read.
Read and act 3 sentences before swapping with your partner.
Have 2 turns each.
Now as a challenge ask your partner to read a sentence out loud while you try and act out the punctuation. Can you keep up?
Swap over?
Try acting out 2 sentences.
Are you laughing yet?
Have fun acting out your punctuation.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What kind of things would you like to design?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking. No comments will be published until approved by editors.
