Through a combination of solar cells and battery power, the Zephyr experimental plane recently flew for three days straight. Using super-lightweight solar cells and super-efficient batteries, the plane is powered and charged by day, and then the batteries provide power at night.

Like a lot of amazing research, including the Internet, this was funded by the military, in this case to provide a new generation of spy planes.

Filed under: zephyr, solar flight, solar plane, endurance, and military

Continuing our coverage of Oshkosh, here's an electric plane that can fly for 1.5-2 hours at 70mph. The engine takes about two hours to recharge, which is a great flight to charge ratio, and a charge only consumes about $0.75 worth of electricity.

Flying thrills for less than $ 0.50 an hour ... I call that amazing!

Filed under: flight, electric plane, plane, and electric

The world's largest general aviation show in Oshkosh, MN, wraps up this week. Here's a best in show roundup from Popular Mechanics. I liked the Cirrus single-engined personal jet, but John Travolta's antique 707 is pretty cool too.

Filed under: oshkosh, general aviation, airplane, and jet

Looking oddly like space alien headquarters or deep-freeze pods for spacemen, these new Delta seats look like they will give flyers a bit of privacy, comfort and a better shot at some sleep during those monotonous overnight flights.

They look like a really interesting design, trying to use some of the unused space defined by the airplane's contours to give a bit more room.

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until 2010 to give them a try.

And no more $12,900 fares (see below for that story).

Filed under: delta, tourist class, seats, airplane, airline, and flying

This is a trailer for a longer documentary, but it's fairly long and gives a beautiful overview of the event.

Plenty of great still pictures too.

Filed under: SR-71, airplane, and rc

Combine the flight of a bat with the scuttling of a cockroach, and you have this Morphing Micro Air and Land vehicle, which can be remotely controlled from up to a mile away.

The video features both flying and scuttling stages. The scuttling looked a bit slow to me but I can see how it would be handy to hide the beast as shown in the video.

Warning: The video both from the craft and of the craft suffers from extreme "shakycam" effects, so if you don't like disorientation you might skip this one.

Filed under: fly, bat, cockroach, and spy plane