aircraft

Air Attack HD is a vertically scrolling "shmup" (shoot-'em-up game) that pays homage to old-school airplane adventure games like 1942 and Aero Fighters. In it, your mission is to fly through different stages and obliterate hordes of enemies, both in the air and on land.

In Air Attack, you choose one of two unique airplanes and make your way through eight challenging missions. Each airplane is equipped with a different default cannon, and both are capable of dropping crater-making bombs. To upgrade your arsenal, destroy enemies carrying power-ups or purchase add-ons in the shop. These upgrades can … Read more

Some people believe the future is something to look forward to. And, indeed, there is some evidence that, for a small number of people--especially those who work at Facebook--that might well be true.

However, there are certain aspects of futuristic technology that might make you blanch a little over as you contemplate the difference between what you are now and what you might become.

For example, Airbus has today been in London presenting some of its more advanced dreamings about the future of air travel. They seem to revolve around a plane that has a see-through fuselage, no first class, … Read more

The idea of human beings flying around in the sky like Michael Jackson used to fly into concerts--via jetpack--might seem a trifle outlandish.

However, those crafty souls at the Martin Aircraft Company have flapped one more wing toward the idea of your own personal, $100,000 jetpack, on which you can avoid traffic and soar into (or at least onto) your well-deserved corner office.

One of the potential drawbacks of jetpacks revolves around the idea that if the engine fails, you might just fall out of the sky.

This would not be terribly good for business. So Martin decided to … Read more

Technology helped U.S. SEAL commandos get to Osama bin Laden's compound, but the outcome of the raid depended on old-fashioned soldiering skills. This from a military force that has made history through robotics in pursuit of its goals. Unmanned aerial vehicles have been used for surveillance, and more recently for attacks, on targets in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, and elsewhere. No other military, as far as we know, has put such stock in unmanned, autonomous, or remote vehicles.

Today we're going to discuss the use of aerial drones, UAVs, and UCAVs with Spencer Ackerman, the main writer of Wired's great Danger Room blog.

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Some of our discussion points… Read more

Honda Aircraft's HondaJet owns the ski in this test flight. The video, posted this week on YouTube, shows the "Civic of the Skies," take off, land, and fly around a bit over Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C.

As we reported last month, the FAA-confirming flight puts HondaJet one step closer to becoming FAA certified.

The advanced light business jet is powered by a fuel-efficient, low-emission HF120 turbofan engine with a cruising speed of 420 knots and a range of 1,400 nautical miles (1,611 miles).

Honda Aircraft plans to deliver HondaJet to costumers … Read more

Honda Aircraft this week is one more step closer to making HondaJet a reality. The company, which plans to deliver light business aircraft in 2012, completed an FAA-conforming flight.

The nearly one-hour test flight took place on Monday from the company's Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, N.C.

The HondaJet has already undergone a number of FAA structural tests and will have to pass on additional structural test and another flight test to be certified. The company plans to take HondaJet into full production at its Greensboro plant.

"We are very encouraged by our initial review of … Read more

After several years in development, Terrafugia's "flying car" could be available for sale before the end of next year.

Setting up shop in its new manufacturing plant in Woburn, Mass., Terrafugia is aiming for low-volume production of its "flying car," or Transition Roadable Aircraft, as early as late 2011, the company announced Wednesday.

For the longer haul, plans for high-volume production are uncertain and would depend on how well low-volume manufacturing goes. In the general aviation industry, low volume is typically tens or dozens of aircraft each year, while high volume can reach the mid-hundreds, … Read more

FARNBOROUGH, U.K.--Most trade shows will fit inside any old convention center big enough to accommodate the vendor booths, sales reps, and keynote speeches. But the Farnborough International Airshow needs a runway, too.

This weeklong show west of London is where the aviation industry goes to buy and sell airplanes, helicopters, and everything needed to build them. By Thursday, $47 billion worth of business had taken place as airlines placed orders for dozens of expensive jets. That may not match 2008's record level of $88.7 billion, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

The show itself, which … Read more

It seems that the latest movement in vehicular design is the movement that sends roadworthy machines into the sky.

A couple of weeks ago came the news that the FAA was giving a regulation break to a flying car prototype, the Terrafugia Transition, allowing it to be classified as a light sports aircraft with heavy airbags.

Then it was said that the Marines might take possession of their own flying four-wheeler, courtesy of Logi Aerospace.

But now I bring joy to the privileged and pouty who will only drive labels that show their deep-seated power and class. I mean, naturally, … Read more