Very Exclusive Gadgets & Gizmos

The world’s greatest aviation celebration, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh opened its doors to the public on July 26 2010, and one of the highlights includes the Dornier Seaplane Company’s new Seastar CD2 amphibious flying boat. The first amphibious aircraft from Dornier took its first flight on July 12, 1929 CD2, and thereafter the financially strapped Dornier Company could no longer operate it.

It’s been four years in the making but a prototype of the Solar Impulse, the HB-SIA, completed its first test run in Zurich in December. A fascinating venture to promote solar energy as a means of alternative energy-based transpiration, the Chairman of Sun Impulse and co-founder of this project Bertrand Piccard (yes, that’s really his name) hopes the craft will circle the globe in 20 days by the year 2012. To do so, it will require approximately 12000 solar cells that will need to be attached to the plane’s wings and fuselage, allowing it to store at least 14 hours of energy.

Yuneec offers a two-seat electric-powered aircraft, the e430. And the best part, it will be ready to buy next year(2011)! If the company delivers on its promise, this electrically powered plane could change the world, costing just two dollars per hour to power its flight. Priced around $89,000.

It’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to actually fly the supersonic fighter jet out of your dreams. Bear Aircraft LLC has introduced their all metal, high-performance, 360 HP radial M-14P powered, tandem seating, Warbird styled, Bear 360 aircraft. The aircraft is the result of the work of an American and Russian international design team. Coming from Russia is the most prestigious aircraft designer, Sergey Yakovlev, and America’s most experienced combat fighter pilot and world champion air racer, Skip Holm, who have made the birth of Bear 360 possible.

Gulfstream Aerospace teaming up with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has come up with a business aircraft to witness those mega deals between top bureaucrats that make or break the destiny of a group or a nation. Called the “Gulfstream G250,” the mid-range aircraft can travel 3,400 nautical miles at maximum operating speed of 0.85 Mach. The G250 is capable of climbing to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet.

The business class aviation industry is officially feeling the pinch of the recession. Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, known for its high-end private jets for the business class, has reported lower net sales and an increased operating loss for the first quarter ending March 29, 2009. The lower sales were imminent with response to the cancellation of private jet orders from prospective customers; even the big corporations and elite of the society were forced to part with their corporate jets to cut down on their extravagance including Starbucks, Citigroup and Time Warner, to name a few.

The Ecoflyer two-seat light sport aircraft is a composite airplane with a single piston engine. The guys behind the Ecoflyer are the ones who developed Private Explorer, a flying motor home designed for aero-tourism. The interior of the plane is done in Nextel suede coating and features two seats with movable backrests, bed for two persons, and 152 cubic feet of space. An Ecoflyer prototype has already hit the skies. If you are an affluent flying enthusiast on the hunt for a spacious sport aircraft, you can order the Ecoflyer sport aircraft for a mere $100,000.

The Terrafugia Transition is a plane that thinks it’s a car. Or vice versa. Interesting factoids for ya. They’re estimating a final price of $148,000, first production late 2009, cruise speed 115mph, range 460 miles, gas consumption 23 mpg, reverse gear, two seats and ethanol capable. So a Porsche it ain’t, but think of the glee as you fly over the I-95 donkeys on a damp Monday morning.