A photo from open sources
Virgin Atlantic President Richard Branson claims that graphene planes will appear in the next ten years – a material that is lighter than a feather and stronger than steel.
Graphene is obtained from graphite and is carbon a layer one atom thick, which then combines into a two-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice. Such material, according to entrepreneur, allow airplanes and other aircraft save fuel up to fifty percent.
Note that Richard Branson once convinced the leadership Boeing and Airbus produce light aircraft carbon fiber. Based on this idea, the Boeing 787 even appeared. Dreamliner, which is half made from lightweight composite materials, including carbon fiber, which replaced traditional aluminum. Unique aircraft now operates the London – Seattle route Virgin Virgin Airlines. However, Boeing refused to further production. such airbuses, because it considers them too expensive. By assurance of the leadership, the development of lightweight constructions was discontinued in favor of using pure and therefore more economical fuel.
Richard Branson, completely agreeing that the application clean fuel is a big deal for airlines, however, pushes his idea of using graphene in production aircraft. Moreover, graphene is much lighter and stronger. carbon fiber. The thing, as they say, is left to a few – to develop a cheaper way to produce this very graphene – material of the future.
Time Aircraft
