These days NASA is busy building a single passenger vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that runs on electric motors. It is 3.7 meters high and stands on 4 extendable legs when on the ground. It can achieve a maximum speed up to 480 km per hour, while the cursing speed is 240. This aircraft was specially designed for army as it quieter and the heat emission is also lower as compared to combustion engine. Two rotors raise it off the ground before it begins to fly horizontally with the pilot in a lean position in the cockpit. Puffin can fly up to 9,150 meters.
Lithium phosphate battery allows it to fly 80 km per charge. Low capacity of the batteries is a major problem that needs attention and improvement in the battery technology is likely to solve this problem. Electric powered aircraft with such an efficiency is twice beneficial towards environment as it reduces the noise pollution along with air pollution.
Via: GizmoWatch/Inhabitat