Tech

Aviation in 2030: Fuel-guzzling supersonic planes or electric air taxis?

Enlarge / Joby Aviation’s electric aircraft takes off for a test flight. (credit: Joby Aviation) Over the last two days, two companies have outlined radically different—yet oddly familiar—visions for the future of air travel. One idea is built around a buzzing network of small, electrically powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ferrying commuters in […]

Tech

United Airlines orders 200 vertical-takeoff electric airplanes

Enlarge / An artist’s rendering of Archer’s first aircraft, due out in 2024. (credit: Archer) The success of uncrewed electric drones in the last couple of decades has caused some people to wonder if similar construction techniques to those used in drones could be employed to create small electric aircraft to carry people. Not only […]