1. AVIATION TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Air Transport Talanoa Pacific Islands Development Forum
Thursday, 25 August, 2016
Source:

2. AIR TRANSPORT ISSUES
Technological paradigms & perceived ceilings to efficiency through diminishing returns on current aircraft designs
Rapidly growing market for commercial passenger aviation and international travel
Low energy efficiency/weight ratio compared to sea transport alternatives
Poorly understood on the global/regional stage compared to international climate change initiatives (UNFCCC)

3. INCREMENTAL CHANGES 2020 Emissions Cap Design Improvements
The International Civil Aviation Organization is attempting to pass a resolution on a Market-Based Measures scheme to cap aviation emissions at 2020 levels through carbon offsets .
Design Improvements
Continued refinement of the fuselage and wing shapes and materials have increased traditional aircraft efficiency with each generation.
Thrust & Fuel Specification
New types of heat exchanges and gearing systems can create more effective thrust, and increased fuel grades can burn cleaner with greater power output.
Sources: 1. 2. 3.

4. SOLAR APPLICATIONS
Solar Impulse The Solar Impulse, developed by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, it has been flown 40'000km around the world by two alternating pilots without fuel. Using 11,628 PV cells, it’s powered by four electric motors, with four 21 kWh lithium-ion batteries (450 kg), providing 7.5 kW (10 HP) each
Qinetiq/Airbus Zephyr Now a part of the Airbus High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) programme, the Zephyr 7 holds the endurance record for unfueled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight time (14 days) “Replacing one conventional UAV with just one Zephyr  would save 2,000 tons of fuel each year.”
Sources: 1. 2.

5. EMERGING MARKET HYBRID AIRSHIPS IN FLIGHT
Aeroscorp Aeroscraft ML866
Successfully fulfilling the DARPA Walrus project objectives, the Aeroscraft is due to handle at 66 ton payload in its smallest cargo size. Larger models are planned.
Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10 This 302ft (92m) long aircraft began test flights in the UK this past week, with plans to build 10 vessels per year by 2021.
Lockheed Martin LMH-1 Developed as the P-791 in 2006, the LMH-1 is now filling an order for 12 vessels to Straightline Aviation and will be going into commercial production by 2018
Sources: 1. 2.

6. NEXT-GEN AIRSHIPS
Varialift A UK-led design firm, the Varialift is promoting a helium-ballast system with an aluminium exterior, not dissimilar to the Aeroscraft system, but sharing more commonalities with current fuselage design.
Sunrise A thermal solar-powered airship, this concept design has generated a significant amount of attention for its incredibly low-energy input design, which could provide aerostatic lift and aviation services for incredibly reduced costs.
Sources: 1. 2.

7. DORMANT TECH
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 1 passenger
Length: 19 ft 2 in (5.97 m)
Wingspan: 28 ft (8.53 m)
Height: 4 ft (1.22 m)
Loaded weight: 740 lb (336 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × McCulloch 4318 air-cooled, 60 hp (45 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 70 mph (113 km/h)
Range: 275 mi (440 km)
Service ceiling: 6,500 ft (1,981 m)
Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (152 m/min)
Goodyear Inflatoplane Using Airmat nylon threading technology, ‘'the United States Army, ultimately cancelled the project when it could not find a "valid military use for an aircraft that could be brought down by a well-aimed bow and arrow"‘(1956)
AeroVironment, Inc Gossamer Albatross Successor to the Gossamer Condor, Paul MacCready’s design was able to claim the second Kremer prize for crossing the English Channel under human power. (1979)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: m (34.0 ft.)
Wingspan: m (97.7 ft.)
Height: 4.88 m (16.0 ft.)
Wing area: m2 (488 ft2)
Empty weight: 32 kg (70 lb)
Loaded weight: 97.5 kg (215 lb)
Useful load: 65.5 kg (145 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: km/h (18 mph)
Range: km (35 miles)
Sources: 1. 2.

8. Thank you
Andrew Irvin, Energy Programme Officer International Union for Conservation of Nature, Oceania Regional Office p: f: