Airplanes have come a long way since the first flight in 1903. They fly farther and faster than ever before. They also dump tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day, burning up fossil fuels and polluting the planet. Airlines and other companies are teaming up to find a solution. Innovative new designs for electric airplanes could change the way people travel within the next few years. Someday you might hop on an airplane for a short trip instead of driving. Or, you might hover over city streets in an air taxi. The future of flight is exciting and looks electric.

Attempts at electric powered flight date to well before the 19th century. Battery weight and low energy output made it impractical until the 1990s, when the advent of lightweight materials, more efficient solar power, improved engines and the Li-Po (lithium polymer) battery opened the skies to a wide variety of electric aircraft. The author describes the diverse designs of modern electric flying machines--from tiny insect-styled drones to stratospheric airships--and explores developing trends, including flying cars and passenger airliners.

Some planes fly with alternative forms of power. Electric motors, which may run on solar cells or batteries, are bringing the aviation industry closer to zero emissions and noiseless travel. Kids learn the benefits and challenges of electric aircraft and the newest and coolest futuristic aircraft flying today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. A&D Xtreme is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

The environmental impact of hydrocarbon-burning aircraft is one of the main motivations for the move to electric propulsion in aerospace. Also, cars, buses, and trucks are incorporating electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems, reducing the pressure on hydrocarbons and lowering the costs of electrical components. The economies of scale necessitated by the automotive industry will help contain costs in the aviation sector as well. The use of electric propulsion in airplanes is not a new phenomenon. However, it is only recently that it has taken off in a concrete manner with a viable commercial future. The Electric Flight Technology: Unfolding of a New Future reviews the history of this field, discusses the key underlying technologies, and describes how the future for these technologies will likely unfold, distinguishing between all-electric (AE) and hybrid-electric (HE) architectures. Written by Dr. Ravi Rajamani, it covers the essential information needed to understand this new technology wave taking hold in the aerospace industry. The Electric Flight Technology: Unfolding of a New Future covers fundamental topics such as: • The history of electric propulsion, including its evolution from using traditional electricity, to solar power to batteries as sources to sustain propulsion and flight. • The various architectures being considered for electric aircraft, specifically small general aviation (GA) aircraft and larger business jets; single-aisle commercial aircraft; and larger twin-aisle commercial aircraft. • The various systems and subsystems of an electric aircraft, along with how various subsystems in the vehicle can be integrated in a more optimal manner. In the future, the existing tube-and-wing configuration will not be the only available architecture; instead we will be more likely to find an architecture where the propulsion system is embedded within the airframe. • The future trends in this arena and what we can expect to see in the next decade or so.

People have been experimenting with drones for more than 150 years. During the U.S. Civil War, they tested hot air balloons loaded with explosives on timing devices. These early drones were dangerously unreliable and uncontrollable. Spies in hot air balloons proved the importance of aerial surveillance but also the risk. Technology soon caught up and made flying and spying using unmanned aircraft possible. Today, drones do more than ever before. Electric drones help save lives, deliver packages, perform shows, explore the Earth, and transport passengers. All different types of drones are making people’s lives easier and better in many ways.

What are the benefits of electrified propulsion for large aircraft? What technology advancements are required to realize these benefits? How can the aerospace industry transition from today's technologies to state-of-the-art electrified systems? Learn the answers with this multidisciplinary text, combining expertise from leading researchers in electrified aircraft propulsion. The book includes broad coverage of electrification technologies – spanning power systems and power electronics, materials science, superconductivity and cryogenics, thermal management, battery chemistry, system design, and system optimization – and a clear-cut road map identifying remaining gaps between the current state-of-the-art and future performance technologies. Providing expert guidance on areas for future research and investment and an ideal introduction to cutting-edge advances and outstanding challenges in large electric aircraft design, this is a perfect resource for graduate students, researchers, electrical and aeronautical engineers, policymakers, and management professionals interested in next-generation commercial flight technologies.

Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft was developed to explain what the electric aircraft stands for by offering an objective view of what can be expected from the giant strides in innovative architectures and technologies enabling aircraft electrification. Through tangible case studies, a deep insight is provided into this paradigm shift cutting across various aircraft segments – from General Aviation to Large Aircraft. Addressing design constraints and timelines foreseen to reach acceptable performance and maturity levels, Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft puts forward a general view of the progress made to date and what to expect in the years to come. Drawing from the expertise of four industry veterans, Pascal Thalin (editor), Ravi Rajamani, Jean-Charles Mare and Sven Taubert (contributors), it addresses futuristic approaches but does not depart too far from the operational down-to-earth realities of everyday business. Fundamentals of Electric Aircraft also offers analyses on how performance enhancements and fuel burn savings may bring more value for money as long as new electric technologies deliver on their promises.