Gyro Gearloose was famous for his inventions. Take the amazing bread-buttering machine.
How owls might have inspired him is anyone’s guess.
Cue the latest design from an Alabama-based company that could have the potential to revolutionize the aviation industry.
Its prototype has two engines mounted to the rear rather than under the wings. Its three pairs of wings are thinner and more aerodynamic, with fuel stored on top of the fuselage.
The latter, meanwhile, is no longer constructed using individual parts, which can break in an accident, but a single piece of composite material.
Capacity is 264 passengers, range 10,500 miles. It would use 70% less fuel than similar planes, cutting CO2 emissions by 80%.
We’ll watch this space.
