airplanes

Biofuel-powered commercial aviation finally takes off

The era of American commercial airliners flying on biofuels is here.

A Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 from Houston yesterday became the first U.S. plane to fly passengers while using an algae-based biofuel. According to an article originally published in the Houston Chronicle, the Continental flight carried 154 customers while using the fuel blend, which was developed by South San Francisco, Calif.-based Solazyme.

"United Continental Holdings, the airline's parent company, estimated that the biofuel blend on the Chicago-bound flight reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to what would come from the exhaust of a car … Read more

The 404 914: Where we hope no one gets died (podcast)

With Justin out for the rest of the week, today we bring in CNET duo Bridget Carey and Mark Licea to run through the ashes of Amazon's Kindle Fire announcement with price cuts for both the BlackBerry PlayBook and the Barnes and Noble Nook Color.

A listener's girlfriend, Laurie, completes her mission to take a photo of The 404 logo at an Apple Store, though Apple employees refuse to take part. We also get a look at the next version of the Android operating system codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich. Finally, Jeff's fear of flying also isn't helped when we learn that pilots can now flip a plane with the push of the wrong button, but Bridget is traumatized even more by the Dead Island trailer and nwo movie.

The 404 Digest for Episode 914

16 GB BlackBerry PlayBook now just $299 at Best Buy Amazon is losing $50 per Kindle Fire Amazon's Silk browser may come to Mac and Windows PCs Airline pilot almost flips a plane by pushing a wrong button Netflix cancellations slowing down Android Ice Cream Sandwich gets leaked Lionsgate to make movie based on Dead Island trailer Fitocracy gets 700+ new 404 group members Bathroom Break #1: Floppy disk drives perform Star Wars' Imperial March Bathroom Break #2: Best NASCAR prayer ever (in song) Episode 914 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Doodle Assault, a unique side-scrolling shooter

Meet Doodle Assault for Android, a quirky side-scroller that strays from the typical spaceship-versus-aliens shoot-'em-up style by incorporating some childish humor into its plot. In this game, you are a paper airplane, flying across an infinitely long landscape of doodled-on binder paper. Your enemies include snout-shooting flying warthogs, winged pencils, and other fantastic classroom doodles come-to-life.

As you destroy enemies with your tiny origami shooting stars, you can pick up coins that can be used to upgrade your plane. Upgrades include Plane Speed, Weapon, Health, Firing Rate, and Defense. What's great is that you keep all of your … Read more

Boeing finally delivers first 787 Dreamliner

EVERETT, Wash.--At long last, Boeing has handed off what may be the most important commercial airplane in its history, the 787 Dreamliner.

Heralded for years as the biggest technological leap forward in aviation in decades, the Dreamliner has represented both Boeing's greatest promise--an all-new energy-efficient plane made from composite materials--and the biggest thorn in its side.

Despite being beset by myriad delays, the Dreamliner has engendered passionate excitement and interest, and this morning, Boeing finally reached a milestone it, and the world, has been awaiting for at least three years: the delivery of the first 787 to its … Read more

Boeing 787 Dreamliner: T minus 1 day to handoff

EVERETT, Washington--If you know anything about airplanes, you're no doubt aware of the long travails of one of the most anticipated airplanes of all time, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

First unveiled before thousands of employees, press, and fans on July 8, 2007 (07/08/07), the plane was supposed to begin carrying paying passengers by 2008. But after years of delays of all kinds, the Dreamliner has yet to achieve that milestone.

But on Monday, Boeing is expected to finally reach the top of the hill with the plane, and will host a large crowd eager to see the … Read more

Android to power inflight entertainment for Boeing Dreamliner

The iPad might be winning the tablet battle on the ground, but Android is on its way to owning the air. Boeing has chosen the Android platform for in-flight entertainment for its new 787 Dreamliner airplane. Once integrated, passengers will be able to play games, listen to music, watch video, and more from the comfort of their seat.

Mark Larson, the technical manager at Boeing's Dreamliner Gallery, told the Australian Businss Traveler that all current 787s will see touch displays built into seats, giving the airliner's passengers something to do on those long flights. Economy seats will see … Read more

TrayVu: In-flight Android with your peanuts

Airlines may soon be serving up more than dried out chicken and honey roasted peanuts on tray tables. Skycast Solutions has just launched TrayVu, an Android-powered in-flight entertainment system that is integrated into the seat-back tray.

Instead of staring at a hunk of beige plastic, fliers would get a full view of an Android tablet with an 8.9-inch screen. It can be viewed from the seat back position, or flipped up with the tray table down.

The systems will let customers order food and drinks for themselves or other family members (and maybe strangers) and run up a tab. The usual in-flight movies will be on tap along with ads, shopping, music, and games.

If you happen to work for an airline, you'll want to hear about the installation requiring no seat modifications and that the system adds less than 2 pounds of weight per seat.

Perhaps the biggest benefit to frequent fliers is the ability to lower the device down to a reasonable level.

No more reaching up to activate a touchscreen. You can keep it right there with your cup of watered down coffee and peach danish in a plastic bag.

Be kind to the next passenger and wipe that danish off your fingers before pawing your complimentary in-flight Android tablet.… Read more

Plane-in-a-tree is the perfect getaway for Airbnb

The folks at Airbnb could probably use a nice relaxing night away from it all, and I have just the place.

Last week was a roller-coaster ride for the company, which connects people looking for a room with people willing to rent theirs out. It started with raising over $100 million in additional financing and ended with a bad PR firestorm as the story of the trashing of one woman's apartment by an Airbnb renter went viral.

Now that it appears a suspect is in custody, perhaps it's time for a company retreat to get away from it all, debrief, and recharge the batteries. Fortunately, there's a place called Costa Rica that I'm pretty sure was invented for just this kind of occasion. And even more fortunate for the folks at Airbnb, one of their users has made this unbelievable treehouse suite available.… Read more

World's first 'printed' plane snaps together and flies

English engineers have produced what is believed to be the world's first printed plane. I'm not talking a nice artsy lithograph of the Wright Bros. first flight. This is a complete, flyable aircraft spit out of a 3D printer.

The SULSA (Southampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft) is an unmanned air vehicle that emerged, layer by layer, from a nylon laser sintering machine that can fabricate plastic or metal objects. In the case of the SULSA, the wings, access hatches, and the rest of the structure of the plane were all printed.

As if that weren't awesome enough, the entire thing snaps together in minutes, no tools or fasteners required. The electric plane has a wingspan of just under 7 feet and a top speed of 100 mph.… Read more

The giant Airbus A380 and the tiny French village

LEVIGNAC, France--I'm looking up toward the sky at two things you wouldn't expect to be right next to each other. One is the "boulangerie" sign outside the bakery in this tiny French village. The other is the "Airbus A380" logo emblazoned on the protective cover on one end of a segment of giant airplane fuselage.

Why would two such things be next to each other? Because late Friday night, a truck convoy carrying all the major components of the next A380 that Airbus will build--the world's largest passenger plane, a full double-decker … Read more