Ars Technica - Gadgets
First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity 14 August 2026 at 19:00

First test flight of largest all-electric aircraft used just $5 of electricity

14 August 2026 at 19:00

The first flight of the largest battery-electric aircraft to take to the skies lasted nearly half an hour while costing just $5 of electricity. That aviation feat comes at a time when jet fuel prices have skyrocketed because of the US war with Iran.

The test flight of Heart Aerospace’s X1 demonstrator aircraft took place at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York on August 12. The X1 aircraft is comparable in size to a small regional airliner and can achieve a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25,000 pounds with the help of four wing-mounted electric motors. The battery-electric propulsion system delivered more than one megawatt of power during the maiden flight.

All-electric aircraft can offer quieter and cleaner flight without the emissions that come from burning jet fuel. They may also prove more reliably cost-effective than conventional aircraft that come with jet fuel costs subject to geopolitical disruptions.

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NYT - Technology
Can A.I. Get You Where You Want to Go for Less? 10 August 2026 at 12:24

Can A.I. Get You Where You Want to Go for Less?

NYT - Technology

By: Elaine Glusac

10 August 2026 at 12:24

A wave of new services uses A.I. to monitor flights and hotel reservations to help you find lower prices. We look at how these tools work.

Ars Technica - Gadgets
New airliner sets record flying 24 hrs nonstop from Australia to France 28 July 2026 at 19:43

New airliner sets record flying 24 hrs nonstop from Australia to France

Ars Technica - Gadgets

By: Jeremy Hsu

28 July 2026 at 19:43

A new Airbus passenger jet completed an ultra-long test flight between Australia and France lasting more than 24 hours—paving the way for the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights starting up next year.

The Airbus A350-1000ULR was developed specifically for Qantas Airways’ planned nonstop flights between Sydney and either New York or London. The Australian airline has ordered a dozen of the new airliners for its Project Sunrise routes that aim to start offering tickets for sale in 2027.

The aircraft had been doing initial test flights near the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, with a small team of test pilots and test engineers before conducting its first ultra long-haul test flight last week. After taking off from Toulouse on July 23, it flew for 19 hours and 13 minutes before landing in Melbourne, Australia, on July 24.

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