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MIT and NASA Designing Silent Aircraft

Posted by samzenpus on from the Fly-the-silent-skies dept.

Iddo Genuth writes "Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics recently won a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to design quieter, more energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly commercial airplanes. The two-million-dollar contract from NASA is just an initial step in bringing green technologies to the sky."

10 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. It's called a balloon. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's called a balloon.

    1. Re:It's called a balloon. by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

      Or a slingshot.

      Catapult?

      Ballista?

      Trebuchet?

      Mankind can't consider itself advanced till we can send satellites to space using a trebuchet.

    2. Re:It's called a balloon. by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 5, Funny

      What I thought. My last university spent £2m getting one of the campus buildings into Second Life.

  2. So, you're saying... by liquidMONKEY · · Score: 5, Funny

    These aircraft will be silent, but deadly?

    Sorry, just had to sneak that in...

    1. Re:So, you're saying... by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, you'll know them by their vapour trails, but you won't hear them coming.

  3. Re:Silent... aircraft. Huh. by Amouth · · Score: 3, Funny

    wonder if CA will try to pass a law making these jets have a noise generator so that the blind can hear them coming (you know like their trying to do with eletric cars)

    --
    '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  4. Black Helicopters by ZirbMonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's about time that the stolen UFO technology currently being used in silent black helicopters is finally trickling down to private enterprise.

  5. Re:Silent... aircraft. Huh. by somersault · · Score: 4, Funny

    the governor, citing that the issue was of paramount import for stealth in the imminent rise of the machines, vetoed

    There we go, fixed that for you.

    --
    which is totally what she said
  6. Black helicopters in whisper mode.. by Paracelcus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are a paranoids wet dream, cloaked black helicopters in whisper mode are already following me everywhere I go, I know they're there because I don't see or hear anything, really!

    --
    I killed da wabbit -Elmer Fudd
  7. Re:Engine maintance costs. by actionbastard · · Score: 3, Funny

    "...the 'drop off' ones..."

    Oh, I hope not!

    --
    Sig this!