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Cessna Developing Airplane 'Condom' to Protect Planes from Lightning

April 13, 2011 at 8:45 AM | by | Comments (0)

Most airplanes that get you from here to there are designed to withstand all kind of fury from Mother Nature, including lightning strikes. Commercial planes have to meet all kind of weather-related requirements, but it looks like some new technology from Cessna could make it pretty easy to pass all the necessary tests.

The aircraft maker is developing some kind of a magical skin—or series of skins—to protect prototype planes from all kinds of bad stuff found high above the earth. NASA is eager to see what they can figure out, as they’re funding part of the project to create a new super futuristic airplane. They’re looking for something that can sip fuel, be whisper quiet, and not worry about whatever the weather is doing outside the cockpit.

Some of the ideas include adding a foam layer to protect the plane from any sort of turbulence or other unexpected bumps, as well as adding sensors for constant monitoring of what’s going on in and around the plane at all times. However, the best idea has to be the color changing ability of the plane’s protective layer, so that pilots and other engineers would know exactly when something is wrong with the plane. We can only imagine the colors of that the poor regional jet after it got walloped by the A380.

Things are still on the drawing board, so unfortunately none of this travel technology will be available to the general flying public anytime soon. However, Cessna is thinking about finally testing out some of its new ideas this summer. They need to get their TPS reports to NASA within the next couple of years, so they’re kind of on a timeline.

Related Stories:
· 'Magic Skin' Could Make Aircraft Lightning-Proof [MSNBC]
· Some New Boeing Airplanes Aren't Getting Along Well With In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]
· Airplanes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a stormy evening: DieselDemon]

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