Green Options » pilot

First Ever Manned Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft Takes to the Air

Andrew Williams — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:25:58 +0000

Earlier this week, the world’s first piloted aircraft powered solely by hydrogen fuel cells, took to the skies above Hamburg Airport, Germany, producing zero carbon dioxide emissions.

The Antares DLR-H2, jointly developed by the German aerospace centre DLR, Lange Aviation, BASF Fuel Cells and Denmark’s Serenergy, has a range of 750km (390nm) and can stay airborne for 5 hours at top flying speeds of about 90kt (170km/h).

According to DLR, a main hurdle was improving fuel cell performance capabilities and efficiency to such an extent that the motor glider could take off using fuel cell power alone. DLR’s Johann-Dietrich told reporters, “This enables us to demonstrate the true potential of this technology.” (see more pictures after the jump).

Pilot Bike-Sharing Program Announced for San Francisco

Rhonda Winter — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:00:38 +0000

San Francisco has just announced that it will go forward with a pilot bike-sharing program to help increase the number of trips taken by bicycle in our city. The program will be implemented by Clear Channel, the operator of SmartBikeDC, currently the only other bike-sharing program in the United States.

One of many conveniently located bike-sharing stations in Vienna, Austria

Many city residents and bike enthusiasts are very disappointed that the proposed program will initially only have five stations, with roughly a dozen public use bikes at each. The five stations will not be in close proximity to each other, but will be spread across the city in the Financial District, Mission Bay, the Presidio, Civic Center and on the City College campus.

Biodiesel Powered Plane Makes History With First Flight Across US

Andrew Williams — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:57:35 +0000

Earlier this month, pilots Carol Sugars and Douglas Rodante made history by becoming the first flight-crew to successfully fly across the US in a plane predominantly powered by biodiesel.

Of the total 2,486 miles flown from Reno, Nevada to Leesburg, Florida, 1,776 miles were 100% biodiesel-powered. The remaining 710 miles were powered by a 50/50 mix of biodiesel and standard jet fuel.