As part of the ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, the Women in Aviation International Conference (WAI) celebrated its 30th Anniversary last week in Long Beach, California. This milestone celebration hosted attendees from around the globe, representing all aspects of the aviation community and recognizing powerful women who have not only paved the way to help change the landscape of women in aviation but empowered other women to do the same.
In recognition of their groundbreaking achievements, we are spotlighting five influential women in aviation who have been inducted into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame.
Bessie Coleman
First African-American to Earn International Pilot’s License
Bessie Coleman broke the racial barrier and became the first African-American to earn an international pilot’s license. Born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892, Coleman moved to Chicago after briefly attending Langston University in Oklahoma. She was an avid reader and worked as a laundress, but it was during her time in Chicago, where she was inspired by World War I pilots, that she decided to pursue a pilot’s license.
Knowing Europe had a more liberal attitude toward women and people of color, Coleman learned to speak French and worked hard to earn enough money to move to Paris. On June 15, 1921 she earned her pilot’s license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. She moved back to the United States, where she flew at air shows and taught aviation to African-Americans.
Sadly, she didn’t live long enough to make her dream of establishing a flying school for African-Americans a reality, but her legacy inspired the Bessie Coleman Aero groups in the early 1930s, which held the first all-black air show in America and attracted 15,000 spectators. Almost 90 years later, the event has become an annual aviation celebration.
Harriet Quimby
First Licensed Female Pilot in the United States
On August 11, 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first licensed female pilot in the United States, ten years before Amelia Earhart. Her daring and adventurous side put her name in the books on April 16, 1912 as the first woman to fly across the English Channel. This incredible feat catapulted her name in the industry, but the sinking of the Titanic two days earlier overshadowed her accomplishment in the news. She is also credited with being the first woman to fly over Mexico City.
Prior to earning her pilot’s license, Quimby was an accomplished writer. In 1911, she managed to write seven screenplays which were made into silent movies. At that time in history, she was the only woman who wrote about and encouraged other women to enter the field of aviation.
“In my opinion, there is no reason why the aeroplane should not open a fruitful occupation for women. I see no reason why they cannot realize handsome incomes by carrying passengers between adjacent towns, why they cannot derive incomes from parcel deliveries, from taking photographs from above or from conducting schools for flying.”
Katherine Cheung
“China’s Amelia Earhart”
Listed in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum as the nation’s first Asian aviatrix, Katherine Cheung switched gears from studying music at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and the University of Southern California to obtaining an international commercial airline pilot’s license.
Born in China in 1904, Cheung moved to the United States to live with her father and attend college. She married in 1924 and fell in love with flying a few years later while taking an airplane ride with a relative who was a pilot. Soon after, she enrolled for flying lessons, and in 1932 received her pilot certification, the first Asian-American female pilot in the United States to do so. Aerobatics soon became one of her passions. She entered competitive air races and became a member of the Women’s International Association of Aeronautics that same year, launching her aerobatics/air show career. Three years later, Cheung was invited to become a member of the International Association of Women Pilots – the Ninety-Nines – where she befriended Amelia Earhart.
Aside from being honored in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the Beijing Air Force Aviation Museum calls Cheung “China’s Amelia Earhart.”
Jeana Yeager
Member of the Groundbreaking Voyager Team and Winner of the Collier Trophy
Jeana Yeager was born in Fort Worth, Texas on May 18, 1952. She moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1977, where she worked as a draftsman and surveyor for a company specializing in geothermal energy. Her fascination with helicopters prompted her to earn her private pilot’s license at the age of 26. In 1980, Yeager met fellow pilot Dick Rutan and his brother Burt, an aircraft designer, at an airshow in Chino, California. The rest, they say, is history. The three innovators brainstormed their dream of flying around the world without stopping and without refueling. After six years of design, construction and development, the Voyager team constructed the unique aircraft made almost entirely of lightweight graphite-honeycomb composite materials. Expected to take 18 months, the milestone flight― which took place between December 14 and December 23, 1986―set the record, taking only nine days, three minutes and forty-four seconds.
In recognition of this revolutionary aviation accomplishment, President Reagan presented the Voyager crew with the Presidential Citizenship Medal, which had been awarded only 16 times before in history. In addition, Jeana Yeager earned the Collier Trophy―aviation’s most prestigious award.
Bernice “Bee” Haydu
Former WASP President Who is Among the First Women to Fly Military Planes for the Army
Bernice “Bee” Haydu was born on December 15, 1920 in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduating high school, she enrolled in aviation classes on the weekends while working as a secretary. She attended the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in Sweetwater, Texas and completed her training in March 1944. Haydu is among the first women to fly military airplanes for the Army Air Force. Her dedication to WASP placed her front and center as president of the organization from 1975-1978, where she led the fight in Congress to recognize the WASP as veterans. In 1977, President Carter signed the bill into law, allowing the WASP access to Veterans Administration benefits.
Are you a woman interested in a career in aviation? Register for our Open House on April 13 at 10 a.m. to learn how you can take your future to the skies.
The Mars exploration exhibition has a new robot and its name matches the mission as NASA’s InSight spacecraft is gearing up to give scientist’s “insight” into the Red Planet’s interior as it studies the Martian underworld.
Sticking the landing
Excitement filled the control room at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory last November when the InSight spacecraft sent back confirmation of its safe arrival on Mars’ surface. After launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California six months earlier, InSight travelled 300 million miles and landed flawlessly on the Red Planet in what NASA engineers and scientists are calling “a nail-biting descent.”
Traditionally, Florida’s Space Coast is the launching pad for such voyages; however, this was the first interplanetary mission lift-off from the West Coast of the United States. InSight, which stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, is the ninth lander in history to be sent for Mars exploration by the United States.
Robotics in motion
InSight is equipped with a robotic arm that will lift a dome-shaped package containing seismometers and a heat probe up from the main deck of the spacecraft and on to the surface of Mars. These instruments will burrow about 16 feet down into the planet’s interior structure, where the seismometers will measure surface movements and produce sonograms of its interior.
Vaughn College has a keen interest in mechatronic engineering and the development of robotic equipment, having set the stage for excellence in robotics. Its robotics team earned the world championship title in the 2016 VEX Worlds Robotics Competition and placed among the top three in the world in the 2017 and 2018 competitions.
Unlike temblors caused by plate tectonics found on Earth, Martian temblors are generated when crust cracks due to the cooling and shrinking of the planet’s interior. This groundbreaking mission, no pun intended, is extraordinary since the interior of Mars has been basically frozen in place since it formed almost 4.5 billion years ago. That’s billion with a ‘b’! Scientists are hopeful to record anywhere between 10-to-12 marsquakes over the next two years.
Hitching a ride
The InSight spacecraft wasn’t alone on its rocket ride last year. Two CubeSats―or miniature satellites―named MarCo-A and MarCo-B, hitched a ride for their own Mars exploration mission to show how tiny spacecraft can explore deep space. This new technology tested flawlessly as NASA scientists stated the MarCo duo was instrumental in the landing, having been able to relay data from the InSight spacecraft to mission control.
Fun fact: CubeSats are no strangers to orbiting the Earth. In fact, hundreds have been launched in recent years, although the InSight spacecraft mission marks the first interplanetary voyage for the identical satellite spacecrafts.
Mission possible
Over the next two years, the InSight spacecraft will have an unprecedented look at the interior structure and composition of Mars as it listens for marsquakes and tremors while collecting data. These findings will help scientists understand how Mars and other rocky planets like Earth formed, and could also serve as a time machine to give scientists a glimpse at what Earth may have looked like tens of millions of years after it formed.
Robotics at Vaughn College
Are you interested in learning more about robotics? Vaughn’s mechatronic engineering degree program can prepare you for an exciting future in robotics and may even set you on a trajectory to discovering possibilities that are out of this world.
At Vaughn College, we are an insatiable group of learners with curious minds, always looking to explore the dynamic aeronautical world around us. Our faculty and student body are continuously working together to discover―and overcome―limitations in the industries we serve and uncover new possibilities for the best possible future. And we are not alone in this quest.
Richard Branson is always seeking ways to redefine aeronautics―which is something we at Vaughn know a thing or two about. His recent “space-tourism” venture, Virgin Galactic, is planning to bring space travel to anyone who wants to go into orbit, experience the Earth from an unforgettable perspective, and fly with the stars―as opposed to the clouds.
The journey begins with the “SpaceShipTwo,” a rocket-powered plane that flies into space after it detaches from its mothership. The space plane travels at a speed of 2,300 miles per hour and reaches top speed in eight seconds. An interesting incentive to taking this scenic route is to reach 50 miles above Earth, which will earn each passenger astronaut wings from the USA. With the spaceship’s first successful test flight underway, Branson believes that the first flight could begin sometime this year. And many customers are ready, as Virgin Galactic already has close to 700 customers who have either put down a deposit on a ticket or have already paid in full.
And Richard Branson is not alone in outer space. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin just completed its tenth test launch with a projection of starting flights later this year, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship is currently being revamped with stainless steel. All three are orbiting in the same lofty vicinity, aspiring to be the first enterprise to bring their customers into space.
The curious minds of these three pioneers, coupled with the advances in aerospace over many decades is what―soon enough―will make space tourism an actual reality. From the first manned moon landing in 1969 via the Apollo 11 to sending robots (remember PUFFER?) to space to explore surfaces on planets such as Mars, to the groundbreaking research that crews discover in NASA’s International Space Station―space travel and discoveries have come a long way. Branson, Bezos and Musk are examples of those who are willing to go the extra mile to prove that something wonderful is just beyond the horizon.
Be the first one to know. Stay connected with Vaughn by receiving our monthly newsletter. Sign up below!
For the aviation sector, SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions offer a higher level of productivity for airline maintenance operations, as well the opportunity for improved safety and cost reductions. However, this technology trend has been slow to pick up speed for maintenance professionals in their quest for emerging technology solutions.
This blog provides three cogent reasons why the adoption of cloud-based computing is a no-brainer for those in charge of making decisions for maintenance operations.
1. Anywhere, Anytime
Today, cloud computing is revolutionizing business as more users are now free to use applications and information from any device with Internet access―such as tablets on the maintenance shop floor, or laptops out in the field. Since all software and information is stored remotely and managed on a cloud-based server, users no longer have to worry about security, data corruption, viruses, computer theft, or equipment malfunctions. The provider of the service manages and updates all information stored online so the users of the service―or their Information Technology (IT) departments―don’t have to, thus freeing up time for employees to focus on other tasks. What would you rather have your maintenance team working on―aviation maintenance or computer software maintenance?
2. Real-time Access
Another reason implementing a cloud-based system makes sense is how it optimizes the mechanic and his or her work. The truth of the matter is no one in the maintenance operation benefits more from cloud computing than the mechanic. Having real-time, immediate access to the most up-to-date libraries and regulatory information right on the shop floor is a tremendous improvement over older processes which require a dedicated workstation, or even a special room for maintenance and regulatory libraries.
Order data, manuals, service information, parts availability, customer contact info, the latest regulatory updates, the most current maintenance procedures, forms, business procedures and more are all available the moment they are needed. And this information can be accessed anywhere from any computer with an Internet connection; that adds mobility to the job. Who wouldn’t want that.
3. Easy Collaboration
The third reason to welcome cloud-based aviation maintenance is that it allows for the harmonious transfer of information for everyone within the operation. With the cloud, aviation maintenance professionals can more easily and efficiently manage and share information with fellow workers and the company for improved collaboration.
It should be noted that collaboration is one of the key advantages of cloud computing. As everything is stored in the cloud, it is easy for multiple users to access the same application and data at the same time and easily share information about particular data. Notes with specialized information can be attached to documents. Company procedures and processes can be added to any publication. Instant access to collaborative information improves communication and business processes which in turn reduces risk for the company and mechanics. Cloud computing saves time and money and generates a team spirit to every project. In essence, the cloud brings every stakeholder in the operation closer and helps to make communication clearer.
The world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered train rode the rails in Lower Saxony, Germany last month when European railway manufacturer Alstom launched two models of their new commercial trains, Coradia iLint. This latest innovation is a collaboration of cross-border teamwork between France and Germany to provide a climate-friendly alternative to diesel-fueled trains.
Fueled by the elements
The Coradia iLint uses fuel cells that turn hydrogen and oxygen into electricity releasing steam and water instead of large plumes of smoke and carbon dioxide like diesel trains. Fueled at a mobile hydrogen filling station, gaseous hydrogen stored in a 40-foot high steel container is pumped into the train. Alstom reports one tank of hydrogen will provide enough fuel for the train to travel approximately 621 miles. Plans for a stationary filling station is scheduled for operation in 2021 when Alstom plans to deliver an additional 14 Coradia iLint trains with a price tag of just over $93 million.
Going to distance
The two electric trains can travel up to 87 miles per hour and will operate on a 62-mile line carrying passengers between the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervorde and Buxtehude. Previously, this line was served by diesel trains operated by Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB.) The Coradia iLint trains replace diesel engines eliminating the need to electrify the entire track with a charged third rail or overhead powerlines, as would be needed for more traditional electric trains to function.
Clean travel
In an ongoing effort to reduce air pollution, Coradia iLint just may be a trailblazer in revolutionizing the rail system with its zero-emissions and low-noise output—making hydrogen a rock star element as an efficient alternative to diesel. As for the passenger experience, it’s one quiet ride.
Electric airplanes may become a reality sooner than we think as Norway launched its inaugural flight of an electric two-seater plane last June. With some of the busiest flight routes in Europe, Norway is striving to be a pioneer in the electric airplane industry with hopes of launching its first commercial electric-powered aircraft within the next 10 years.
Tesla-inspired
When we hear today’s buzz about electric engines our minds turn to Tesla, the American multinational corporation that specializes in electric vehicles. Norway is no stranger to Tesla, as the country boasts one of the largest Tesla markets selling around 8,500 cars last year. This comes on the wings of western Europe’s largest oil and gas exporter pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. This dedication to clean living has prompted Norway to use the tourism sales pitch “Powered by Nature” to further their efforts to be a pioneer in the electric plane market.
Electric flight
The two-seater electric plane made by Slovenian manufacturer Pipistrel took off from Oslo Airport with none other than the transport minister in the passenger seat. With a flight time of up to one hour, this groundbreaking test-flight may just be the beginning of pollution-free aviation, according to Avinor, a state-owned company that operates Norway’s airports.
Cleaner, quieter skies
Since jet engines run on fuel they not only produce fossil-fuel emissions but noisy skies. Electric engines can be the answer to both of these environmental issues but not without limitations. With cleaner, quieter skies comes the question, “Where does the pilot recharge the plane?” The reality is planes need to land somewhere to refuel, but in the case of electric planes it’s a matter of recharging.
Vaughn’s take
Capt. Pete Russo, PhD, department chair and assistant professor of aviation at Vaughn College weighed in on the future of electric airplanes. “I’m in favor of electric airplanes,” said Russo. “The electronics in today’s planes is already advancing beyond our expectations. The work being done in Norway is demonstrating the capability of what we need to create pollution-free aviation.” Russo said the manufacturing of electric engines weighs heavily on the industry and making the switch to electric would have a major impact on how we approach the future of aviation. “Tesla has revolutionized the electric car industry,” said Russo. “It’s just a matter of time before we see electric planes in our skies.”
Airports getting on board
Airports servicing electric planes will need to get on board with a new flight planning process to accommodate this new wave of aviation. Here are a few ways airports and aviation personnel will need to adapt:
Airports will need to install charging stations
Flight times will need to be adjusted since electric planes fly at a slower rate of speed than jet-propelled engines and will need time to recharge
Pilots will need to track their charge the same way they monitor their fuel supply.
Charging ahead
Some say it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” that we see electric airplanes in our skies. The possibility of electric-flight covering short distances may be in our future, but skeptics say there’s no indication we may be replacing today’s long-haul flights with electric propulsion.
Every year, the Vaughn Robotics Team participates in the VEX Worlds Robotics Competition. Here, this team competes against other student teams from schools all over the world, where they design and create robots with the goal of completing a themed task. The ultimate purpose of this competition is for all students to exercise their creative, analytical and technical skills to the limit. And with the great advances made in robotic technology on a near-daily basis, there is next to no limit of what can be accomplished.
Giving credit where it is due, Boston Dynamics introduces dog robot “Spot”
Take one nearly futuristic example of combined creativity and technology that was recently unveiled by Boston Dynamics, a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Essentially, “man’s best friend” is taking on a new role here, as its latest robot (named Spot) embarks on literally covering new ground.
The team at Boston Dynamics designed the untethered dog-like robot to assist in search and rescue operations and for being able to access disaster zones. Its sturdy and sure-footed design allows Spot to carry supplies over uneven terrain, while its super-human stability allows it to keep its balance, even when kicked over on its side. Designed as the baby brother to BigDog, the company’s quadrupedal robot, Spot is smaller and lighter and comes equipped with onboard sensors that allow it to recover quickly if it encounters hostile territory or a situation where it might “trip” or tip over. Weighing in at 160 pounds, Spot is about 80 pounds lighter than his big brother and has BigDog beat when climbing up hills.
Although Spot has a dog’s name, its gait is more like a prancing horse. This electronically-powered robot may not have the same ability to carry the same weight as its big brother, but Spot’s unique dexterity allows it to navigate difficult areas, both indoors and outdoors. And when it comes to “seeing” the environment, Spot was designed with a rotating sensor on its back, rather than on a head-like structure.
This project was made possible with funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), whose mission is to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies for national security.
Other “species” of robots
Spot is the newest arrival among the family of incredible animal-like robots from Boston Dynamics. Other cool creations include the WildCat, the world’s fastest free-running quadruped robot on Earth, which can run almost 20 mph while maneuvering and maintaining its balance, and the SandFlea, which drives like a remote-controlled car and can leap almost 33 feet into the air to avoid obstacles.
What does Dr. Rahemi, Vaughn’s chair of engineering and technology, have to say?
In preparation for the VEX Worlds Robotics Competition, the Vaughn Robotics team is aided and guided by Hossein Rahemi, PhD, chair of the Vaughn’s engineering and technology department. Dr. Rahemi has no doubt seen many impressive technological advancements in his day, and he is most enthusiastic about the latest developments from Boston Dynamics. “Today, robotics technology is advancing at a lightning pace, making our lives easier, better and safer than ever before,” he states. “We’re seeing robots going places that are too difficult or dangerous for humans to go, such as war zones deep within the sea and bomb threat areas, just to name a few.”
Vaughn students learn not just technology, but purpose
To keep up with the pace of robotics technology, and its purpose, Rahemi stresses Vaughn College’s commitment to educating its students on the importance of a sense of service to mankind. A top priority is the improvement of our environment to be a better and safer place. “We motivate, engage and provide our students with all the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in their career path,” Rahemi said. “Together, we can all be responsible individuals in the society we serve.”
If you are studying aviation or engineering in an institution such as Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, you may be hearing the acronym “TFR” around campus, or even in the news. But what does “TFR” stand for? Very simply: “temporary flight restriction.” And recently, these seemingly temporary situations are occurring more frequently.
What is the purpose of a TFR?
A TFR is issued to clear and restrict an area of airspace for security or safety and it is a necessary part of aviation protocol. In fact, there are typically several TFRs in place every day across the National Airspace System (NAS). Some examples of why TFRs might be issued include:
The movement of government VIPs such as the president or vice president
Special events, including the Super Bowl, political conventions, and other occasions such as the United Nations General Assembly
Natural disasters such as wildfires
The trouble resulting from TFRs is how they can wreak havoc on the aviation industry, ultimately making the friendly skies not so friendly.
Vaughn’s perspective
Dr. Maxine Lubner, professor and chair of the management department at Vaughn College, weighs in on the subject of TFRs and their impact. “Now more than ever, airport managers of our country’s smaller airports are facing more frequently occurring challenges due to TFRs,” she states. “We hope to see an improvement in TFR issuance by implementing a combination of revised procedures, technology applications and communication systems. I believe it’s time to revisit how TFRs are issued and used in light of the current impacts they are having on general aviation and the surrounding communities in a way that would both preserve security and business activity.”
Who’s feeling the greatest impact?
Smaller municipal and privately-owned airports are experiencing the greatest impacts―both on their runways and in their wallets―when it comes to VIP TFRs. Recent presidential movement in both New Jersey and Florida have crippled smaller airports surrounding President Trump’s visits, locking down runways and restricting flying within the duration of his stay.
New Jersey-based airports that include Morristown, Solberg and Somerset, and Lantana Airport in Florida, have seen recent significant financial impacts, not to mention restrictions on flights to and from LaGuardia Airport in New York and Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. Temporary flight restrictions create a no-fly zone within a 10-mile radius during the president’s entire stay, while looser regulations restrict air traffic within a 30-mile radius, thus impacting related-aviation businesses. Some of these affected businesses include:
Flight training schools
Aircraft parking and rentals
Sky diving charters
Balloon flights
Fuel sales
Maintenance
The loss of revenue is staggering. While some airports are reporting financial losses in the tens of thousands, some have stated their losses are upward of $800,000.
Relieving the financial strain
Although TFRs are here to stay, the question remains: What steps can be taken to relieve the financial strain of TFRs on smaller airports? The answer may not be an easy one, but state representatives and the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) are working on a solution.
To stay up-to-date on this and other related topics, visit the Industry News section on the Vaughn College website.
“I know it sounds cliché, but I want to build robots and I want to be making prosthetic limbs and braces that would help athletes to continue to move right after surgery.” – Maia Rivers, Class of 2018
Helping people and changing the world is anything but cliché. As the field of engineering continues to advance, Vaughn College is committed to staying ahead of the curve with the latest in cutting-edge innovation and engineering technology. Its 3D prototyping innovation center―within the department of engineering and technology―is equipped with 3D printers and scanners to give students the opportunity of putting their classroom knowledge into action. Providing such an innovative atmosphere is paramount to creating pioneers in the industry who can go on to do great things and change the world we live in for the better.
Prosthetic ‘Fin’ Made From 3D Printers Making a Splash with Amputees
Groundbreaking advancements using 3D printers are making a big splash in the world of prosthetics, as developers have created a revolutionary underwater prosthetic leg called “the Fin,” which gives amputees a second chance at swimming, according to CNN.
Diving into the need
Todd Goldstein, Director of Northwell Ventures 3D Printing Laboratory in Manhasset, New York, designed and fabricated “the Fin” with the use of a 3D printer to meet the needs of active amputees who needed an easier way to navigate in the water and maximize their propulsion while they swim.
Putting “the Fin” to the test
The latest engineering advancements that utilize 3D printing make this innovative swim leg easy to use for lower leg amputees. They attach it to their own prosthetic, which allows them to easily get in and out of the water without changing prosthetics. And it is designed with multiple holes that allows water to flow through the V-shaped fin as the swimmer kicks, giving them maximum propulsion.
Embracing Wounded Warriors
After losing his leg in Afghanistan 14 years ago, retired Marine Corporal Dan Lasko was selected by Northwell Health to test this state-of-the-art swimming leg. His passion as a triathlete, as well as having two sons who love the water, made Lasko the perfect candidate for the job.
Lasko said he’s been in contact with some of his fellow wounded warriors who are also interested in the device. The Department of Veteran Affairs states 2.6 percent of war veterans return home missing a limb. And according to the Amputee Coalition of America, at least 185,000 lower leg amputations are performed every year, which means there are approximately two million amputees in the United States.
With such staggering numbers, innovative prosthetic devices like “the Fin” are making a difference in quality of life by helping get amputees back in the water.
Vaughn College offers students a unique opportunity to turn their dreams into a reality and create incredible innovations of their own. Learn more about the College’s wide range of engineering and engineering technology degrees and see how a degree from Vaughn can prepare you for an exciting career in this expanding field.
The “friendly skies” may become eco-friendlier. Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio are working toward reducing the nation’s total use of fossil fuels. Your likely question: “How?” The answer: By developing alternative aircraft designs with the use of electric-powered low-carbon propulsion technology.
A new frontier
More than 42,000 flights and 2.5 million airline passengers are in the air every day, with 5,000 aircraft in the sky at any given time. And with air traffic passenger demand projected to surge even higher in 2018, the skies will be busier than ever. From the beginning of flight travel, carbon-based fuels have been powering commercial airlines, leaving a trail of fossil fuel emissions behind them. But this heavy carbon footprint situation may be changing.
Researchers from Glenn are setting the stage for planes that will require using less fossil fuels in the future. Aeronautical engineers are taking a closer look at how airplanes can be revamped to use electric power that would provide the plane’s thrust and power for flight, while simultaneously reducing the plane’s energy consumption, emissions and noise level. Like hybrid or turboelectric power that is used in cars, boats and trains, NASA hopes to guide the aircraft industry into using hybrid electric and turboelectric propulsion, as opposed to relying solely on gas turbines.
However, these alternative aircraft designs wouldn’t be “flying solo” on electricity just yet. The alternative system would combine electric motors and generators with turbine engines.
A cleaner future
Low-carbon propulsion technology can make each flight up to 30 percent more fuel efficient and require lower operational costs, which is good news for airlines that have been hit hard with high jet fuel prices. Although the day that we see an electric-powered airplane may be years away, the idea of it is literally fueling excitement for a cleaner future.
Interesting in learning more about Vaughn’s programs? Take a look here to see everything we have to offer.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Simply complete the form below to receive information about Vaughn and get connected with an admissions counselor.
Bessie Coleman broke the racial barrier and became the first African-American to earn an international pilot’s license. Born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892, Coleman moved to Chicago after briefly attending Langston University in Oklahoma. She was an avid reader and worked as a laundress, but it was during her time in Chicago, where she was inspired by World War I pilots, that she decided to pursue a pilot’s license.
On August 11, 1911, Harriet Quimby became the first licensed female pilot in the United States, ten years before Amelia Earhart. Her daring and adventurous side put her name in the books on April 16, 1912 as the first woman to fly across the English Channel. This incredible feat catapulted her name in the industry, but the sinking of the Titanic two days earlier overshadowed her accomplishment in the news. She is also credited with being the first woman to fly over Mexico City.
Listed in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum as the nation’s first Asian aviatrix, Katherine Cheung switched gears from studying music at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and the University of Southern California to obtaining an international commercial airline pilot’s license.
Jeana Yeager was born in Fort Worth, Texas on May 18, 1952. She moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1977, where she worked as a draftsman and surveyor for a company specializing in geothermal energy. Her fascination with helicopters prompted her to earn her private pilot’s license at the age of 26. In 1980, Yeager met fellow pilot Dick Rutan and his brother Burt, an aircraft designer, at an airshow in Chino, California. The rest, they say, is history. The three innovators brainstormed their dream of flying around the world without stopping and without refueling. After six years of design, construction and development, the Voyager team constructed the unique aircraft made almost entirely of lightweight graphite-honeycomb composite materials. Expected to take 18 months, the milestone flight― which took place between December 14 and December 23, 1986―set the record, taking only nine days, three minutes and forty-four seconds.
Bernice “Bee” Haydu was born on December 15, 1920 in Montclair, New Jersey. After graduating high school, she enrolled in aviation classes on the weekends while working as a secretary. She attended the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in Sweetwater, Texas and completed her training in March 1944. Haydu is among the first women to fly military airplanes for the Army Air Force. Her dedication to WASP placed her front and center as president of the organization from 1975-1978, where she led the fight in Congress to recognize the WASP as veterans. In 1977, President Carter signed the bill into law, allowing the WASP access to Veterans Administration benefits.