It’s been a long and arduous journey, but after decades for some and only a few years for others, aircraft manufacturers are closer than ever to achieving their goals of finding the perfect balance of size, speed, and design that will usher humanity into the next phase of air travel. Whether it’s a futuristic suborbital aircraft capable of exceeding 15,000 mph or an entirely electric-powered flying hotel, these are just a handful of the aircrafts that could take to the skies in the relatively near future.
Million Dollar Future Aircraft Soon Hitting The Skies
Zunum’s hybrid-electric aircraft
Production Company: Zunum Aero
Feature: Hybrid
EST. Cost of Production: >$4 Million*
Commuters in the United States have previously been denied the ability to easily fly between tiny towns. Zunum Aero, founded in 2013 and supported by Boeing and JetBlue Technology, built an aircraft to help alleviate the longer-than-necessary journeys that travelers have been forced to endure. Zunum sought to fly passengers up to 700 miles to any of America’s 15,000+ airports, and was designed to leave a small ecological footprint by switching totally to an electric vehicle once the right battery technology was created. Unfortunately, Zunum Aero did not see its vision realized, as the aircraft manufacturer went bankrupt in 2019.
Zunum’s Hybrid Electric Aircraft
The AW609
Production Company: Leonardo S.p.A (Formerly AgustaWestland)
Feature: Tiltrotor Technology
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The AW609 from Leonardo S.p.A was meant to combine the speed of a turboprop airplane with the take-off/landing capabilities of a helicopter to create a tiltrotor aircraft suitable for public use. The first prototype’s tests began in 2002, although it would be a long time before this aircraft was certified. Certification flights began 12 years later, in 2014, when the AW609 flew its first client on a demonstration flight. Leonardo’s tiltrotor aircraft, which is powered by gasoline rather than electricity, can reach speeds of 337 mph and altitudes of 30,000 feet. After more than two decades of waiting, the AW609 is likely to be introduced sometime in the next few years.
The AW609
Boeing’s Blended Wing Body Airlifter
Production Company: Boeing
Feature: Blended Wing
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
For a long time, manufacturers have looked to nature for inspiration when developing a vehicle for the land, sea, or air. For years, planes have been fashioned to resemble birds of the sky; nevertheless, designers may have been gazing at the wrong terrain. Perhaps they should have looked to the seabird, the stingray. Boeing’s blended wing body (BWB) aircraft still looks like something out of a science fiction film at its concept phase. The obvious benefit of the aircraft’s design is better aerodynamics; nevertheless, its unusual form also provides the aircraft with additional lift that other designs lack – hence the moniker “Airlifter.”
Boeing’s Blended Wing Body Airlifter
787-9 Dreamliner aircraft
Production Company: Boeing
Feature: Longer Non-Stop Flights
EST. Cost of Production: $145 Million* (2018)
Boeing’s 787 is more than just a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner; it’s a “Dreamliner,” and the dream gets better with each subsequent model. The 787-9, one of Boeing’s later models in the series, has a range of 8,786 miles and a cruise speed of Mach 0.85, or 560 mph. Boeing has always strived to deliver the greatest service possible to its clients, and now that service includes transporting 280 passengers on a nonstop 17-hour flight from Perth, Australia to London, England. A future without lengthy airport transfers is no longer a pipe dream; it is now a reality.
787 9 Dreamliner Aircraft
Concorde
Production Company: British Aircraft Corporation & Sud Aviation
Feature: Supersonic Speed
EST. Cost of Production: $25 Million* (1971)
The Concorde boasts the distinction of being the first supersonic passenger airliner, having conducted its first test flight in 1969 and officially entering service in 1976. The Concorde could carry between 92 and 128 passengers at a time, and those who did were in for a treat because the plane could travel at 1,354 mph, or Mach 2.04. Those passengers were traveling at more than twice the speed of sound, for those keeping track at home, but traveling at supersonic speeds comes at a cost. A round-trip ticket from London to New York cost $8,000 in 1997 ($13,000 in 2021). The Concorde was retired in 2003 after 27 years of service.
Concorde
The Spaceliner
Production Company: German Aerospace Center
Feature: Sub-Orbital Travel
EST. Cost of Production: $33 Billion*
For those who were distracted in 2021 and missed it, the civilian space race reached new heights in July, but instead of launching into suborbital space for sightseeing, as Jeff Bezos’ “Blue Origin” or Richard Branson’s “Unity 22” do, the German Aerospace Center wants to use suborbital travel to get people to their travel destinations faster. The German-designed Spaceliner will launch vertically into Earth’s suborbit, powered by 11 reusable liquid rocket engines. Once there, the aircraft will enter a high-speed glide, reaching speeds of Mach 20 (15,000 mph) as it descends to its destination. A passenger’s journey from Los Angeles to London will be reduced to less than an hour.
The Spaceliner
Aerion AS2
Production Company: Aerion
Feature: Supersonic Capability
EST. Cost of Production: $120 Million*
Traveling via private aircraft is a luxury that only a small percentage of the world enjoys. However, when production of the Aerion AS2 begins in 2023, private jets as we know them will be forever altered. According to reports, the Aerion AS2, or “Son of Concorde,” will be able to travel 4,200 nautical miles at a speed of Mach 1.4. The AS2’s CO2 emission might be reduced by up to 85% thanks to the supersonic jet’s GE engines and the 100% sustainable aviation fuel it utilizes. Aerion hopes to have its AS2 in service by 2026, and it will be capable of traveling from New York to London in less than 4.5 hours with 8-12 passengers onboard.
Aerion AS2
Boom Supersonic
Production Company: Boom
Feature: Reaches Mach 2.2
EST. Cost of Production: $200 Million
Concorde, the British-French supersonic jet, flew its final flight in 2003, marking nearly two decades since a commercial aircraft capable of traveling at supersonic speeds. Boom, a Denver-based business, hopes to break the drought via “Overture” by 2026. Boom’s supersonic aircraft is expected to travel at Mach 2.2 (or little more than twice the speed of sound) thanks to engines developed by Rolls Royce. At those speeds, the Overture’s 55 passengers could reach places all over the world in half the time they do now.
Boom Supersonic
A220-500
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: More Space
EST. Cost of Production: <$91.5 Million*
The Airbus A220 is a fleet of narrow-body aircrafts that seat five passengers per row in seats that are at least a foot and a half wide, providing adequate personal space for passengers. In contrast to the former variants in the fleet, which had a maximum capacity of roughly 130 passengers, the new A220-500 type will have a minimum capacity of 150 passengers. As demonstrated by the Airbus A220-500, more passengers do not usually imply less space. Aside from the larger seats, this plane will have larger overhead compartments and two windows per row instead of one.
A220 500
The Vahana
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: Self-Piloted
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The Vahana is a one-seat urban transportation aircraft that can move vertically up and down, allowing commuters to travel from building top to building top across most major cities. Rather than being propelled by fuel, like most aircrafts are, the Vahana’s eight electric motors are powered by a 38kWh battery. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also totally self-contained. The Vahana, guided by the clever sensors in its nose, is capable of navigate through metropolitan skies with ease. With a range of just over 30 miles and a cruising speed of close to 120 mph, Airbus’ self-piloted city transport can bring tourists to their destinations in a quarter of the time it would take by automobile.
The Vahana
CityAirbus
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: Self-Piloted
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
Airbus has been hard at work for the past few years studying and constructing smaller inter-city “demonstrators” that are supposed to relocate one’s commute from the road to the sky, with the objective of one day developing a fully electric airliner. The CityAirbus, which travels at 75 mph over the city, could be the future of carpooling. The CityAirbus is a fully-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with eight electric motors. It is simply a larger version of the Vahana with four passengers instead of one. The CityAirbus will be able to go further than the Vahana, reaching distances of up to 50 miles on a single charge while emitting zero pollutants.
CityAirbus
Eviation’s Alice Commuter
Production Company: Eviation
Feature: Fully Electric
EST. Cost of Production: $4 Million*
Eviation, an Israeli business, has intentions to use smaller airports to help local travelers, similar to what the folks at Zunum Aero had in mind with their electric hybrid aircraft. Alice is designed to accommodate 9 people comfortably and transport them to local places without the hassle of larger airports, all at a fourth of the cost. Alice is an electric passenger plane that can travel over 500 miles at a cruise speed of more than 250 mph. Omer Bar-Yohay, the creator and CEO of Eviation, set out to build the “world’s first all-electric commuter aircraft,” and if Alice receives certification as planned in 2023, he will have accomplished his goal.
Eviation’s Alice Commuter
NASA X-57 Maxwell
Production Company: NASA
Feature: Fully Electric
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
NASA launched a $790 million effort a few years ago that, if all goes as planned, will replace modern commercial airplanes with eco-friendly electric aircraft. The program’s name is “New Aviation Horizons,” and one of its prototypes is the single-passenger, fully-electric X-57 (or, Maxwell). The X-57 has 14 electric motors that it will use to take off and land, but only two of them will be used while cruising through the air at up to 175 mph. The Maxwell runs with low noise and zero in-flight emissions, while also costing around 30% less than current alternatives. The first flight of NASA’s first fully electric passenger jet is expected for February 24th, 2022.
NASA X 57 Maxwell
Pipistrel Alpha Electro
Production Company: Pipistrel
Feature: Electric-Powered
EST. Cost of Production: $93,600*
Pipistrel, a Slovenian aircraft manufacturer, was the first to market with its two-seat Alpha Electro, which is currently in production. The Alpha Electro’s electrical costs are only around 10% of what they would be if it were fueled by gasoline instead of water. The Alpha Electro’s 277 pounds of LiPo battery cells provide enough power for little more than 60 minutes of flight, but once on the ground, it only takes around 45 minutes to fully recharge the battery. If that isn’t quick enough, the aircraft’s battery may be replaced in about 5 minutes. The Alpha Electro is the world’s only “commercially available electric airplane” at the moment.
Pipistrel Alpha Electro
Wright Electric
Production Company: Wright Electric
Feature: Electric-Powered
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The American startup company, Wright Electric, founded in 2016 and named after the brothers who revolutionized air travel, has partnered with EasyJet to develop a completely electric-powered airliner with the capacity to carry approximately 186 passengers on flights of up to around 300 miles. In the fall of 2021, Wright Electric began testing its new electric 2,700 hp motor, which is expected to expand the Wright 1’s range threefold to 900 miles. Wright Electric’s first actual test, with the goal of having its airliner in operation by 2030, will take place in 2023, when the business expects to send its zero-carbon, low-fuel-cost airplane on its initial test flight.
Wright Electric
Boeing 777X
Production Company: Boeing
Feature: Folding Wing
EST. Cost of Production: $442.2 Million*
Boeing has recently begun work on a new Dreamliner for its fleet, which will be larger and more luxurious than any of its previous aircraft. This multi-class, dual-aisle, wide-body aircraft can fly farther than both the 747 and the A380 while accommodating between 384 and 426 passengers, but just because there’s more space doesn’t imply there’s less room. Passengers will have additional storage capacity in the “super-sized” overhead compartments, as well as extra legroom in the larger cabin area. The 777X’s folding wing, which folds at a 90° angle to fit more readily into smaller loading docks, is the crowning achievement. Boeing’s newest Dreamliner is set to make its commercial debut in 2022.
Boeing 777X
The Bullet
Production Company: Otto Aviation
Feature: Aerodynamics
EST. Cost of Production: $5 Million*
The Celera 500L, often known as the “Bullet,” is a single V12 diesel engine aircraft with a streamlined design and gentle curves that maximize its aerodynamics, allowing it to burn less fuel and be more energy-efficient than its competitors. The “Bullet” seats six passengers and is nearly 6.5 times less expensive to operate per hour than other business planes of comparable size. Despite being designed to reach speeds of up to 460 mph, the “Bullet” has only reached speeds of around 251 mph. However, with more than three years until the Celera 500L is scheduled to go on sale, there’s still plenty of time to iron out the kinks and bring the “Bullet” up to speed.
The Bullet
Boeing Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW).
Production Company: Boeing
Feature: Truss-Braced Wing
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
For the greater part of a decade, NASA and Boeing have collaborated on the SUGAR (Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research) initiative. Recently, the partnership of the two industry titans resulted in the creation of the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing idea, which allows for a larger wingspan. Boeing’s TTBW concept plane was originally designed to travel between Mach 0.70 and 0.75, but by utilizing the plane’s 170-foot-long foldable wings and the truss braces that support them, it’s estimated that reaching Mach 0.80 is a realistic possibility – making it not only the highest-flying TTBW concept plane, but also the fastest.
Boeing Transonic Truss Braced Wing (TTBW).
ZerO
Production Company: HerO
Feature: Zero Emissions
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
It’s not every day that an Arts Center College of create graduate is given the opportunity to create an airplane with the potential to transform air travel as we know it, but that’s exactly what happened to Joe Doucet, the man behind the HerO zero-emissions aircraft’s development. The ZerO is known as the “Tesla of the Skies” since it runs on batteries rather than fuel. Its “swept-back” wings are positioned towards the plane’s rear, which also houses the aircraft’s battery. The plane’s unusual design will slow it down by roughly 20%, but the extra flying time is a minor price to pay for the capacity to fly without emitting any emissions.
ZerO
Flying-V
Production Company: KLM & TU Delft
Feature: Unique Shape
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
For the first time since 1992, the “flying V” had significance other than being the play devised by Emilio Esteves to help his Mighty Ducks win the big game; because in 2020, the first scaled flight model of the Flying-V aircraft took off, and with it, the dreams of the plane’s creator, Delft University of Technology alumni Justus Benad, took flight as well. The Flying-V’s distinctive shape is achieved by designing the plane’s wings to include the cargo hold, fuel tanks, and passenger cabin. The concept is projected to not only dramatically improve the plane’s aerodynamics, but also to use 20% less fuel.
Flying V
EADS VoltAir
Production Company: VoltAir
Feature: Fully Electric
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
Some of the aircrafts being developed today are intended to travel at incredible speeds, while others are intended to transport hundreds of people to destinations all over the world. Still in its concept phase, the EADS VoltAir plane is envisioned to do neither of those things, but it will provide its 50-60 passengers with a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. It won’t be ready until at least 2035, but when it is, the EADS VoltAir’s two counter-rotating propellers at the back of the plane will be powered entirely by a lithium-air battery pack that can be easily detached for recharging or swapping out for a new pack.
EADS VoltAir
Aquatic Jet
Production Company: N/A
Feature: Take Off From and Land On Water
EST. Cost of Production: N/A
Norwegian entrepreneur Tomas Brdreskift developed the concept for an Aquatic Jet, the SeaSTOL VLJ (Sea Short Take-Off and Landing Very Light Jet), in order to increase transport and accessibility to islands and coastal communities through aircraft. Unlike earlier seaplanes, Brdreskift’s design will be able to reach altitudes comparable to light jet aircraft. The aquatic jet will include a 5-8 person cabin that will rest on the two skiffs of the SeaSTOL VLJ, giving the aircraft the appearance of a flying outrigger. If an inland destination is desired, retractable wheels hidden within the aircraft’s two skiffs will ensure a smooth firm ground landing.
Aquatic Jet
The Progress Eagle
Production Company: AWWA
Feature: Self-Generating Power System
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The AWWA Progress Eagle, designed by Oscar Vials, isn’t expected to be ready for commercial air travel until 2030; however, when it does, it will do so with “zero containment emissions” and only a quarter of the noise that current aircrafts produce. The rooftop of the Progress Eagle, as well as the topsides of its wings and tail, will be covered in hybrid quantum solar cells. The belly of this three-deck, 315-foot-long airship is designed to carry up to 800 passengers per voyage and is powered by six hydrogen fuel energy engines. The Progress Eagle will be able to create electrical power by harnessing the rear wind generated by the aircraft while in flight.
The Progress Eagle
Airbus A321XLR
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: Longer Flight Time
EST. Cost of Production: $130 Million*
The next generation of Airbus’ A320 fleet, the A321XLR, is set to debut in 2023. The XLR, like the rest of the A321 series, is a narrow-body commercial passenger jet. But that’s about where the parallels end. Airbus effectively infused the old model with “super serum” with this new model. The A321XLR will have a range of between 5,200 and 5,500 miles, or 800 miles more than its predecessor, the A321LR, and a maximum flying length of 10 hours, which is double that of other carriers’ similar sized planes. The longer trip will be possible thanks to the addition of a third fuel tank. According to Airbus, the aircraft will have a 30% reduction in per-seat fuel usage.
Airbus A321XLR
AirQuadOne
Production Company: Neva Aerospace
Feature: Personal Flying Vehicle
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The UK-based Neva Aerospace, which is made up of five European companies, has been hard at work designing the future of electric aviation, conceptualizing and creating everything from robotic platforms in the sky to the now-common electric-powered drones, many of which use Neva Aerospace’s quad electric turbofan system. The AirQuadOne, which is designed to take off and land vertically, will be able to carry its operator for roughly 25 miles at 35 mph while being powered by the aforementioned four fan system. Similarly, this “heavy industrial cargo drone” can transport items unmanned. Charging the AirQuadOne is similar to charging an electric car: simply plug it in and you’ll be ready to fly again in no time.
AirQuadOne
Box Wing Jet
Production Company: NASA, private industries
Feature: Eco-Friendly
EST. Cost of Production: 12% cost reduction compared to regular aircraft
The box wing jet isn’t so much a future aircraft as it is a future aircraft configuration. When compared to conventional aircraft, the box wing configuration will reduce fuel consumption. It will also meet the requirement of reducing CO2 emissions by 75%. The box wing will also have a 90% reduction in NOx emissions. The first box wing jet, according to researchers, should take to the sky by 2035. NASA is participating in the development, and the space exploration agency is urging commercial firms to participate in these environmentally beneficial arrangements. Without a doubt, the company that manufactures one of these box wing jets first will receive a lucrative federal contract.
Box Wing Jet
Green Supersonic
Production Company: Lockheed Martin
Feature: No Sonic Booms
EST. Cost of Production: $200 million per unit*
This supersonic green machine not only looks fantastic, but it also has capabilities well beyond those of standard planes. Lockheed Martin presented the future aircraft design, and the Green Supersonic is currently in the earliest, simulative stages. The simulation shows that the Green Supersonic can fly inland while emitting less sonic booms. This is accomplished by installing an inverted-V engine beneath the wing. According to the concept and designs, range, payload, and environmental goals are all within reach. The ideas were initially presented to NASA in 2010, and experts anticipate that the first Green Supersonic will be in production by 2035.
Green Supersonic
VTOL
Production Company: Bell
Feature: High-Speed VTOL Aircraft
EST. Cost of Production: $100-$150 million per aircraft*
Other than helicopters, two VTOL aircraft are currently in service: the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. VTOL is an abbreviation for “Vertical Take-Off and Landing.” A VTOL aircraft can hover, take off, and land vertically, eliminating the need for a runway. Bell just announced a new form of VTOL. This aircraft concept features fold-away rotors, allowing VTOL planes to fly at jet speeds. This is referred to as the HSVTOL (High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing) by Bell. These new HVSTOL craft will be able to hover like a helicopter while also having the speed, survivability, and range of a fighter jet.
VTOL
Wright1
Production Company: Wright Electric
Feature: Zero Emissions Passenger Plane
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The Wright1, no doubt named in honor of the airplane’s inventors, is an environmentally innovative plane. This single-aisle aircraft is designed for airlines with itineraries of less than 800 miles. The aircraft is the first passenger plane with zero emissions, and it can carry up to 186 passengers. This new aircraft is projected to enter service by 2030. The Wright1 offers reduced fuel expenses in addition to negligible carbon emissions, because to its aerodynamic body and motor technology. The takeoff is silent and quick, producing 20% less noise than a typical, fossil-fuel-consuming jet.
Wright1
Airbus’s ZEROe
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: Zero Emissions Commercial Aircraft
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The ZEROe is currently only a concept plane for Airbus. The ZEROe is committed to zero emissions, as you could have guessed from the name. The ZEROe is one of three design concepts vying to be the first zero-emission commercial airplane. Airbus hopes to have this airliner in operation by the 2030s. The ZEROe and its contemporaries are powered by hydrogen. Airbus feels that hydrogen is a very promising clean, eco-friendly fuel, and that it will most likely be a means for many aerospace and aviation companies to achieve their climate-neutral goals.
Airbus’s ZEROe
Concorde Redux
Production Company: United, Boom
Feature: More Eco-Friendly And Economically Viable Concorde
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The Concorde was the world’s first supersonic passenger plane. Decades have passed since the Concorde’s final voyage, which flew notable passengers, all of whom were ultra-wealthy, at Mach 2 speed at an altitude of more than 55,000 feet, including the Queen of England. In 1996, the Concorde set a world record by flying from New York to London in less than three hours. The Concorde Redux is a method of transforming the Concorde into a more economically feasible and ecologically friendly version of the original Concorde. Boom and United have joined forces to convert the Concorde, dubbed an ecological disaster, into a zero-emissions airliner (or as close to zero as possible).
Concorde Redux
Pak Ta
Production Company: Ilyushin
Feature: 80-Ton Cargo Capacity
EST. Cost of Production: $3.35 million per unit*
The Pak Ta, also known as the Ilyushin Il-106 Slon, was designed as a next-generation Russian military transport jet. Ilyushin is now working on the Pak Ta, which is expected to make its first flight between 2024 and 2026. The Pak Ta will be able to refuel while in flight and transport up to eighty tons of cargo for thousands of miles. The Pak Ta will be powered by four Aviadvigatel PD-35 engines, which are enhanced versions of the PD-14 engines that are still in development. The Pak Ta’s study phase completed in December 2020, and it is presently being built.
Pak Ta
RQ-180
Production Company: Northrop Grumman
Feature: UAV Surveillance Craft for Contested Airspace
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown (Classified)
For a long, it was debatable whether or not the RQ-180 was real. Fortunately for aficionados of hardcore aviation projects, the RQ-180 appears to exist and is quite cool. The RQ-180 was funded by the US Air Force’s top-secret, classified budget. Northrop Grumman was entrusted with building a new front-line vehicle. The RQ-180 is an unmanned aerial vehicle made of steel. The surveillance plane is designed to operate in contested airspace. The RQ-180 was still under wraps in 2019, but there is emerging evidence that it is being developed at the Beale Air Force Base in California.
RQ 180
Venus Craft
Production Company: Northrop Grumman
Feature: Can Survive Flying in Venus’ Atmosphere
EST. Cost of Production: $1 billion* (Project Cost)
Northrop Grumman is quite busy. It is also working on the Venus Plane in addition to the top-secret RQ-180. Although this plane is less classified, it is still cool. The Venus from Northrop Grumman is an inflatable, propeller-powered airplane that could cruise for years in Venus’s sulfurous, hostile skies. Northrop’s VAMP (Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform) would be eligible for $1 billion in NASA financing, as the space agency is interested on researching Venus. The planet’s atmosphere is exceedingly toxic and primarily composed of carbon dioxide, with floating clouds composed of corrosive, hot, high-pressure carbon dioxide. To survive Venus’ atmosphere, the VAMP would need to be highly resilient and tough.
Venus Craft
Aeromobil 0.3
Production Company: Aeromobil
Feature: Flying Car
EST. Cost of Production: $1.3-$1.6 million per unit*
According to its creators, the Aeromobil will be available in 2023. It is based on the Greek mythological character Pegasus and is intended to be a flying car. Flying automobiles were formerly a popular plot device in science fiction films from decades ago. They appear to be becoming a reality very soon. The Aeromobil will be able to switch from a car to a plane in less than three minutes. Aeromobil vehicles have been designed and engineered over 350,000 hours and are the culmination of ten years of research and development. The flying automobile is intended to take off-roading to new heights.
Aeromobil 0.3
Jaxa Plane
Production Company: JAXA
Feature: Supersonic with Lowered Noise Pollution
EST. Cost of Production: $137.8 million* (Project Cost)
Space exploration and aviation are overseen by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Its headquarters are in Tokyo, and JAXA is always at the bleeding edge of aerospace technology. JAXA is currently working on a supersonic aircraft that will seat between thirty and fifty passengers. The craft will cut the sonic boom associated with these jet planes in half, making the JAXA plane far better than the Concorde. JAXA also hopes to reduce noise pollution and travel expenses for the supersonic airplane, as well as improve the plane’s environmental friendliness. If the plane can achieve those three things, it will not end up like the Concorde.
Jaxa Plane
Spike S-512
Production Company: Spike Aerospace
Feature: Supersonic Business Jet
EST. Cost of Production: $80 million per unit*
Spike Aerospace, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is the latest business to enter the quest for sustainable supersonic transportation. The Spike S-512 is a projected supersonic business jet that would allow private and business travelers to travel from New York City to London in three or four hours. The plane would not have windows; instead, it would feature tiny cameras that would send footage to curved displays built into the plane’s walls. Spike is now working on an S-512 with eighteen seats. Despite being three years late, the company hopes to deliver the first planes before 2030.
Spike S 512
SR-72
Production Company: Lockheed Martin
Feature: Hypersonic UAV
EST. Cost of Production: $1 billion* (Project Cost)
The Lockheed Martin SR-72, often known as the Son of Blackbird, is a hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle. This is currently a concept, but it will become a reality soon enough, since the manufacturer expects the SR-72 to fly (at least in test vehicle form) by 2025. UAVs are designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. The SR-72 is a semi-successor of the SR-71 Blackbird, which was decommissioned by the USAF in 1998. For a while, there was a void for aircraft such as the Blackbirds. In November of 2018, the military manufacturer said that, in addition to its other capabilities, the SR-72 would be able to fire hypersonic missiles.
SR 72
Skylon
Production Company: Reaction Engines Limited
Feature: Single-Stage-to-Orbit Spaceplane
EST. Cost of Production: $12 billion* (Project Cost)
The Skylon is not a single aircraft, but rather a collection of concept concepts from Reaction Engines Limited, a British firm. The Skylon is a one-stage-to-orbit spaceplane powered by an air-breathing, combined-cycle rocket propulsion system. Skylon will essentially be a super-fast, hydrogen-powered airplane. The jet will be able to take off from a specially constructed runway at an altitude of 85,000 feet, accelerating to Mach 5.4. Skylon, on the other hand, has hit a snag since it is quite pricey. The developers estimate that the project will cost $12 billion. Only a small portion of those funds had been secured as of 2017.
Skylon
Spruce Whale
Production Company: Yanko Design
Feature: Harvests Wind Energy While Flying
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
This futuristic jet employs technology that may be practical in the future, but who knows when it will become a reality? Yanko Design’s Spruce Whale idea is a “flying marvel” unlike anything we’ve “seen before.” The jet can carry over 1500 passengers and travel at speeds of up to 621 miles per hour. The Spruce Whale, also known as the WB-1010, will have numerous distinguishing characteristics. Its windows, for example, will be constructed of Smart Glass, and it will be able to gather energy from the wind while flying, among other things.
Spruce Whale
Airbus VSR700 OPV
Production Company: Airbus
Feature: High Endurance VTOL UAV
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
The VSR700, developed by Airbus, is yet another cutting-edge vehicle from the aviation company. The multi-mission naval UAS is intended to work in tandem with other naval assets. The UAS being developed by Airbus will offer naval commanders with a more complete tactical view. The UAS is smaller than other aircraft in its class, yet it delivers a powerful punch. Because it employs a highly autonomous platform with a discrete silhouette, it can provide enhanced search and rescue capabilities. The VSR700 is Airbus’ attempt to meet the needs of global fleets in highly dynamic seas and battlefields. Airbus claims that the VSR700 has the best endurance of any VTOL UAV in its class.
Airbus VSR700 OPV
Boeing Electric Freighter
Production Company: Boeing
Feature: Unmanned Cargo Vehicle
EST. Cost of Production: $306.6 million*
The Boeing Electric Freighter is an unmanned transport vehicle powered entirely by electricity. The Freighter was originally controlled via remote control, but modifications enabled it to be transformed into an autonomous flier. The initial flying tests took place in 2017, and the project is continuing in the works. Boeing converted the unmanned aerial vehicle cargo carrier into a plane with twelve propellers and six dual-rotor systems. In May 2019, it had its maiden outdoor flight test. Boeing struck a roadblock in the construction of the Electric Freighter by the end of 2020, as it suffered financial losses as a result of the 737 MAX groundings. The aircraft company is currently working to get things back on track.
Boeing Electric Freighter
AeroMobil 4.0
Production Company: Aeromobil s.r.o.
Feature: Flying Car with a Subaru Engine
EST. Cost of Production: $1.3-$1.6 million*
The Aeromobil has already been addressed, and the 4.0 is the most recent concept in the series. The first Aeromobil concept car was developed in the 1990s, and the ideas advanced until the fourth stage, which was developed in 2017. Of course, the Aeromobil 4.0 is a flying car. The flying automobile will be powered by hybrid technology, with an engine based on a Subaru boxer (300 horsepower from gasoline or 110 horsepower from electric). The 4.0 is currently under construction, and progress has been delayed since a serious accident in 2015. Fortunately, the pilot sustained relatively minor injuries.
AeroMobil 4.0
Crystal’s Boeing 777-200LR
Production Company: Boeing, Crystal AirCruises
Feature: Super-Luxurious Jet
EST. Cost of Production: $50,000 per hour to charter*
Many of us are aware that the Boeing 777 is one of aviation’s most successful and long-lasting aircraft. If you’ve taken a long-distance flight in the last two decades, you’ve most likely travelled on a 777. Crystal Skye’s Boeing 777-200LR offers a “private air cruise experience.” When it comes to air travel, this is the crème de la crème. Chartering the Crystal Skye costs $50,000 per hour. The opulent charter jet features a bar with mixologist, a dining room, and a passenger cabin with 88 business-class seats. In essence, flying aboard the Crystal Skye is similar to taking a cruise.
Crystal’s Boeing 777 200LR
The Green Airways Flying Saucer
Production Company: CleanEra
Feature: Eco-Friendly and Lightweight
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown
You may associate flying saucers with science fiction, but these devices appear to be useful for environmentally friendly air travel. This flying saucer, designed in the Netherlands for the CleanEra project, is seen as the environmentally beneficial plane of the future. The cylindrical, winged body of the saucer employs lighter materials and even propellers to use less fuel. Airline firms can satisfy environmental goals by reducing weight. Though we doubt we’ll see CleanEra flying saucers in the sky, the project’s ideas (such as lighter weight and propellers) may be adopted by other major plane manufacturers looking to make their aircraft more environmentally friendly.
The Green Airways Flying Saucer
The Aeroscraft Dirigible Airship
Production Company: Worldwide Aeros Corp
Feature: Heavy-Lift VTOL Carrier
EST. Cost of Production: $3 billion* (Project Cost)
The Aeroscraft is currently being developed by Worldwide Aeros Corp. This variable-buoyancy, heavy-lift airship will have a robust frame, VTOL capabilities, and low-speed operational capabilities. The freight airship will have numerous new features, the most important of which is static lift. The Aeroscraft regulates static lift by pumping and storing helium. When it needs to boost static lift, it reinflates the helium-filled gasbags. Aeros is seeking $3 billion in finance to get the project off the ground (pun intended). It hopes that with these funding, it will be able to launch a global Aeroscraft fleet by 2023.
The Aeroscraft Dirigible Airship
The Maglev Air Urban Transport
Production Company: Various
Feature: Energy Efficient Levitating Train
EST. Cost of Production: $1.2 billion*
Maglev transportation technologies have been developed and researched for over a century. However, these public urban transportation systems are only available in South Korea, Japan, and China. Magnetic fields are used in the Maglev system to cause cars to levitate and speed down a track. These Maglev technologies are frequently shown as high-speed trains. They’re even used as extreme roller coasters. These urban trains are a hybrid of a train and an aircraft, and they utilize less energy than ordinary trains due to non-contact levitation and propulsion technologies. Hopefully, more urban Maglev transportation systems for cities and towns will be developed in the future.
The Maglev Air Urban Transport
Lockheed Martin’s Skytug Hybrid Airship
Production Company: Lockheed Martin
Feature: Aerostatic and Aerodynamic
EST. Cost of Production: $40 million per unit*
The Lockheed Martin P-791 is currently classified as experimental. The P-791 was built as part of the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Program, and each unit costs roughly $40 million. Despite losing to Northrop Grumman, Lockheed did not abandon the P-791, instead modifying it to become the SkyTug, a civil cargo aircraft. The SkyTug has a lift capacity of 20 short tons. The P-791 has a tri-hull with landing cushions in the shape of disks on the bottom. The hybrid aircraft is powered by both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift, and the P-791 made its first flight in Palmdale, California, in 2006.
Lockheed Martin’s Skytug Hybrid Airship
Aeralis Dart Jet
Production Company: Aeralis
Feature: Military Training
EST. Cost of Production: Unknown*
Rather of providing integrated training, like most trainer aircraft do, Aeralis’ Dart Jet is designed to give modular military fighter pilot training. The cockpit of the trainer jet incorporates tandem seating to make it easier for students to learn from their teachers, and it can be adjusted to accommodate basic or advanced training. Because the Dart Jet is used for training, it does not lack capability. Its dual-engine system produces 12,000 pounds of thrust, allowing the jet to reach top speeds of over 400 mph, while its downward sloped nose and high-mounted wings allow for excellent maneuverability.
Aeralis Dart Jet