To Aviate or Not to Aviate

Few aviation firsts are in the offing this year.

A solar power only aircraft completed its maiden leg on a round the world journey this week by flying from the gulf nation of Abu Dhabi to another called Oman (ironically both nations exist due to oil revenues). The plane and its crew of two pilots plan to circumnavigate the planet over the course of the year finishing back in Abu Dhabi.

The wingspan is wider than a Boeing 747 but it is a light aircraft powered only by solar rays. It will be an achievement in the sense of testing out the kinks of only utilizing renewable form of energy. Not so much because of finding a way to end fossil fuel burn to prevent global warming or some mumbo jumbo but to allow the possibility that we can breathe cleaner air one day.

Another first about to happen is a massive blimp will be ready for takeoff this year. It will be the largest aircraft ever. This is a helium filled balloon that will take off from England for a test flight. It is likely only usable by military or some form of surveillance operation.

Being filled with helium it is light and can fly long hours with minimal use of fuel.

Over 100 years after Kittyhawk, NC, I still am waiting for a fast airliner though that could take people safely from one point on the planet to the opposite under four hours. If that means Mach 5 then so be it - surprising that we have not been able to make Machs work.

Forget exploring MARS for now and let us get commercial aviation to the point it is comfortable (not because of in flight amenities but the expediency) to get from A to B.

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