Aviation Archives - Mechtraveller https://mechtraveller.com/category/transport/aviation/ Mechanically-minded travel Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:57:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Air New Zealand launch Economy Class Bunk Beds https://mechtraveller.com/2026/04/air-new-zealand-launch-economy-class-bunk-beds/ https://mechtraveller.com/2026/04/air-new-zealand-launch-economy-class-bunk-beds/#respond Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:57:07 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=12876 Air New Zealand (ANZ) have unveiled their new economy class ‘Skynest’ mini dormitories, featuring six bunks that will be available to book on flights from 18 May 2026. Each Skynest bunk (“pod”) provides a quiet, private space with a full-length mattress, bedding, ambient lighting, ventilation and charging ports (USB C & A). The six-bunk Skynest […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2026/04/air-new-zealand-launch-economy-class-bunk-beds/feed/ 0 Chinese eVTOL Developer Unveils the World’s First 5-Ton Class eVTOL Aircraft https://mechtraveller.com/2026/02/chinese-evtol-developer-unveils-the-worlds-first-5-ton-class-evtol-aircraft/ https://mechtraveller.com/2026/02/chinese-evtol-developer-unveils-the-worlds-first-5-ton-class-evtol-aircraft/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:51:35 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=12640 One of the earliest eVTOL developers, Autoflight, has revealed Matrix, the world’s first 5-ton class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Matrix successfully completed a public full transition flight demonstration this week at the company’s low-altitude flight test facility centre in Kunshan,Jiangsu Province. During the demonstration (flying alongside AutoFlight’s 2-ton CarryAll cargo eVTOL), Matrix […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2026/02/chinese-evtol-developer-unveils-the-worlds-first-5-ton-class-evtol-aircraft/feed/ 0 The Rotabuggy https://mechtraveller.com/2025/11/the-rotabuggy/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/11/the-rotabuggy/#respond Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:53:40 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=12497 Designed in 1943 by Austrian aeronautical engineer, Raoul Hafner, for the British Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment (AFEE), the Hafner Rotabuggy was a standard Willey’s Jeep converted into an autogyro*. What is an autogyro? Well, like a helicopter it has rotor blades, but unlike a helicopter they are not powered. The blades autorotate with forward motion, […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/11/the-rotabuggy/feed/ 0 XPENG is promoting its personal eVTOL aircraft carrier in the Middle East https://mechtraveller.com/2025/10/xpeng-is-promoting-its-personal-evtol-aircraft-carrier-in-the-middle-east/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/10/xpeng-is-promoting-its-personal-evtol-aircraft-carrier-in-the-middle-east/#respond Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:22:16 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=12424 A Chinese company’s combination multi-rotor, 2-seat eVTOL aircraft and state-of-the-art transporter vehicle, is already taking orders, especially in the Middle East where it has recently completed its first global public manned flight. In the UK, hardly anyone has heard of XPENG but it is one of China’s foremost and most technologically advanced EV manufacturers. Their […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/10/xpeng-is-promoting-its-personal-evtol-aircraft-carrier-in-the-middle-east/feed/ 0 First electric flight lands at London Gatwick https://mechtraveller.com/2025/07/first-electric-flight-lands-at-london-gatwick/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/07/first-electric-flight-lands-at-london-gatwick/#respond Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:56:18 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11937 The first ever electric flight to land at London Gatwick airport, did so yesterday (9 July) as part of the VINCI Airports Network Elektro Tour. The Elektro Tour is taking place over 17 days with a Pipistrel Velis Electro* light aircraft flying between nine VINCI airports in France and London Gatwick to showcase innovation in […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/07/first-electric-flight-lands-at-london-gatwick/feed/ 0 Bicester Vertiport ready for eVTOLs https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/bicester-vertiport-ready-for-evtols/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/bicester-vertiport-ready-for-evtols/#respond Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:17:06 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11813 Skyports Infrastructure held a preview last week of its now complete vertiport at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire. This is one of the UK’s first testing grounds and hubs for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flights. Vertiports are a key component of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, which will not only operate the new […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/bicester-vertiport-ready-for-evtols/feed/ 0 A new rocket engine could open the way to hypersonic airliners https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/a-new-rocket-engine-could-open-the-way-to-hypersonic-airliners/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/a-new-rocket-engine-could-open-the-way-to-hypersonic-airliners/#respond Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:37:12 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11750 A Texas-based start-up, Venus Aerospace, is developing a next-generation rocket engine that could power hypersonic* aircraft. This includes passenger aircraft flying from conventional runways. They aim to reach speeds between four to six times the speed of sound. At Mach 4, passengers could leave London and arrive in New York just 90 mins later. Concorde […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/06/a-new-rocket-engine-could-open-the-way-to-hypersonic-airliners/feed/ 0 Vertical Aerospace eVTOL flying wingborne in open airspace https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/vertical-aerospace-evtol-flying-wingborne-in-open-airspace/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/vertical-aerospace-evtol-flying-wingborne-in-open-airspace/#respond Sat, 31 May 2025 17:03:39 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11743 Vertical Aerospace, last week, reached a landmark in the development of their VX4 eVTOL, by making the first-ever piloted wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in European open airspace. Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft developers around the world are edging nearer and nearer to fully licensed Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) commercial operations, and […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/vertical-aerospace-evtol-flying-wingborne-in-open-airspace/feed/ 0 Another eVTOL Air Taxi Brand to Debut at the Olympics https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/another-evtol-air-taxi-brand-to-debut-at-the-olympics/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/another-evtol-air-taxi-brand-to-debut-at-the-olympics/#respond Sat, 17 May 2025 14:07:04 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11697 Archer Aviation has been selected as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Paralympic Games, and Team USA . This mirrors the plans of Volocopter at last year’s Olympics in Paris, which in the end failed to come about. Similarly, Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft hopes to transport VIPs, fans, and stakeholders […]

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]]> https://mechtraveller.com/2025/05/another-evtol-air-taxi-brand-to-debut-at-the-olympics/feed/ 0 The Britten-Norman Trislander WAS iconic https://mechtraveller.com/2025/04/the-britten-norman-trislander-was-iconic/ https://mechtraveller.com/2025/04/the-britten-norman-trislander-was-iconic/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:14:00 +0000 https://mechtraveller.com/?p=11643 An interesting article appeared in the Southern Daily Echo regional newspaper yesterday, about a Britten-Norman Trislander joining the collection at the Solent Sky museum in Southampton Iconic Trislander at Solent Sky Museum in Southampton What struck me was some of the slightly mean-minded comments about the Trislander, challenging whether it should be described as ‘iconic’. […]

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