[extropy-chat] Bill Gates investing in more efficient aircraft

[BillK]

<http://hardware.silicon.com/storage/0,39024649,39128998,00.htm>

Gates buys into $400m aircraft start-up       March 24 2005

The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based company is working on the Eclipse
500, a six-seater that can fly at a maximum speed of 375 knots.
Designed for flights of about 300 miles to 600 miles, the plane, which
will sell for $1.3m, will likely be used by companies promoting
on-demand flight services.

Aircraft like the Eclipse 500, however, will eventually change the way
planes are made. For one thing, the engine, which comes from Pratt &
Whitney, is incredibly small - about 14 inches in diameter. Smaller
engines enable engineers to eliminate much of the weight of the plane,
which leads to better fuel efficiency and distance. Mass production of
such engines can reduce costs.

The Eclipse designers have also eliminated about 60 per cent of the
rivets on the plane, using strong welds instead. Many of the
traditional mechanical functions on a plane are performed by
semiconductors and software, he added.

Besides cutting costs, these design changes also cut weight - key for
airplanes.

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Seems like Bert Rutan isn't the only one developing better aircraft.

BillK