Plane inspiration: bats, birds and belugas

Published 7:28 am Friday, February 8, 2008

We’ve all seen Airbus’s Beluga cargo jet, also called an A300-600 Super Transporter. It’s used much like Boeing employs its Dreamlifter fleet of bloated 747-400 jets to ferry 787 components.

A French designer wants to introduce a white whale-shaped luxury airship with the tourism market in mind, reports Spiegel. The beluga-like “Manned Cloud” has the eco-friendly traveler in mind. The airship, designed to house a 20-room hotel fit for 40 guests and 15 staffers, would tour alluring spots around the world.

Whales aren’t the only creatures of inspiration for aircraft designers.

Birds and bats serve as muse for engineers at the University of Michigan, according to this report. The researchers have turned to “natural flyers” to learn the secrets of flight. They’re hoping to replicate in an aircraft the flapping wing motion of dragonflies and pigeons.