Eco Factor: Fuel-saving aircraft uses helium for lift.
The Dynalifter aircraft is a fuel-saving combination of an aircraft and a heavier-than-air airship that requires almost no ground infrastructure. The airship gets aloft with up to 80% lift coming from helium and the remaining provided by a fuel-efficient internal combustion engine.
The designers claim that the Dynalifter takes off and lands like a plane but consumes only a third of the fuel. After nearly a decade of work, the 117-foot prototype that looks like a whale could hit the skies in the next few months. The goal however is to offer ships up to 1000 feet long with a cargo capacity of 250 tons.
Via: TheRedFerret/Autopia
