{"id":11619,"date":"2017-10-08T16:45:26","date_gmt":"2017-10-08T23:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11619"},"modified":"2017-10-08T16:45:26","modified_gmt":"2017-10-08T23:45:26","slug":"boeing-announces-zunum-progress-acquisition-of-aurora-flight-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/boeing-announces-zunum-progress-acquisition-of-aurora-flight-sciences\/","title":{"rendered":"Boeing Announces Zunum Progress, Acquisition of Aurora Flight Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boeing made two announcements this week that show the maker of large aircraft willing to investigate niche markets at smaller scales and with more personal service for flyers.\u00a0 Both involve electric power and the potential for automated flight.<\/p>\n

Zunum To Fly by 2020, In Service by 2022<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Zunum Aero<\/a>, the Boeing- and Jet Blue-backed regional airliner startup, will begin development of a 10-to-12 passenger airplane, hybrid powered with large electric ducted fans at the rear of the fuselage.\u00a0 Having flown on earlier examples of 10-passenger \u201cairliners,\u201d your editor welcomes this smaller package.\u00a0 Ford Trimotors and DeHavilland Dragons carried passengers in the 1930s, with simple accommodations and window seats for all.\u00a0 The single-aisle made boarding and deplaning easy and quick, and the low altitudes and slow speeds gave a great sense of engagement with the passing scene.<\/p>\n

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Zunum sees a broad range of smaller airfields as ideal for its short-haul machines<\/p><\/div>\n

Zunum provides a modern adaptation of this personalized service and opens many otherwise underused airports for new use.\u00a0 It brings back the regional airport as a hub for smaller cities and enables simpler, more efficient travel.\u00a0 Zunum sees a rare opportunity for its airplanes to reinvigorate such markets.\u00a0 \u201cOur stock of 13,500 airports is the largest in the world, yet just 140 of the largest hubs carry over 97% of air traffic. This has left many of us with long drives to catch a flight, while on shorter trips we skip air travel altogether. Communities without good air service also struggle to attract investment and create jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n