NASA Green-lights $16.5M To Advance Future Jets

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday April 6, 2011 @05:40AM from the how-much-of-that-goes-to-leg-room? dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA said this week four research teams would split $16.5 million to continue developing quieter, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient jets that the agency says will be three generations ahead of airliners in use today. NASA said the money was awarded after an 18-month study of all manner of advanced technologies from alloys, ceramic or fiber composites, carbon nanotube and fiber optic cabling to self-healing skin, hybrid electric engines, folding wings, double fuselages and virtual reality windows to come up with a series of aircraft designs that could end up taking you on a business trip by about 2030."

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$16.5 million = peanuts by stewbacca · 2011-04-06 05:46 · Score: 4, Insightful

I'm always surprised with the editorial tone of slashdot when they post a figure like $16.5 million and try to draw gasps, as if that's a huge amount of money. I'm on a military contract, and the training portion alone is at about $5 million. $16.5 million for something like a new jet is peanuts.
1. Re:$16.5 million = peanuts by g0bshiTe · 2011-04-06 05:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Considering the cost of a new 747 is around $317.5 million, $16.5 million for r&d seems like a lowball figure.
  
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