Smart_Plan

✈️ Could an aircraft really fly for MONTHS without refuelling?

High above conventional aircraft—and most of the weather—solar-powered HAPS could provide communications, environmental monitoring and Earth observation without launching a satellite.

But making this possible requires an electric motor that is exceptionally light, efficient and reliable.

In my latest Farnborough interview, PMW Dynamics explains the propulsion engineering behind these extraordinary stratospheric aircraft—and why designing the motor cannot be separated from the aircraft, energy system and propeller.

Would you trust a solar aircraft to remain airborne for months at a time?

#HAPS #SolarAircraft #PMWDynamics #AerospaceEngineering #FarnboroughAirshow

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

⚡ ELECTRIC… TO ANTARCTICA?! ❄️

A modified Nissan Ariya travelled from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole—crossing the Americas and operating in temperatures as low as –39°C.

At the British Motor Show, I spoke with expedition co-founder Chris Ramsey about this extraordinary journey.

In the new mini-documentary, discover:

🔋 How they charged an EV beyond the public charging network
🚙 The modifications that transformed the Ariya
🌎 Why the Darién Gap forced them to ship the car
✈️ How it reached Antarctica
☀️ How solar panels, a wind turbine and generator supported polar charging
🧊 What extreme cold does to an EV’s battery and range

This is an incredible engineering and logistics story that deserves far more attention.

Would you trust an electric car at –39°C?

#NissanAriya #PoleToPole #ElectricVehicle #Antarctica

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

✈️ Are batteries simply too heavy for the future of electric flight?

At Farnborough International Airshow 2026, I spoke with Dr Chris Dudfield, Chief Technology Officer at Intelligent Energy, about how hydrogen fuel cells could transform aviation.

We explore:

🔋 Fuel cells versus batteries
🚁 Longer-endurance hydrogen drones
💧 How fuel cells produce electricity and water
⚙️ Storage, cooling and aircraft-integration challenges
✈️ Scaling the technology for eVTOLs and regional aircraft

Could hydrogen be the missing link for practical zero-emission flight?

🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/tafwOO5uQbo

Let me know in the comments: would you trust a hydrogen-powered aircraft?

#HydrogenAviation #FuelCells #FarnboroughAirshow

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

🏁 **THE REAL GT40s THAT BEAT FERRARI!**

At Goodwood, I filmed the three original Ford GT40 Mk IIs that completed the legendary **1–2–3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans**—reunited and running together 60 years later.

I then met the **GT40 Enthusiasts Club** at the British Motor Show to discover how owners are keeping the GT40 story alive on roads, racetracks and hill climbs today.

From the controversial Ken Miles finish recreated in *Ford v Ferrari* to a road-going GT40 with approximately **39,000 miles**, this video brings together the history, the movie connection and the people still driving these incredible machines.

🎬 **Watch the full video here:**
https://youtu.be/IIdAxre7nL8

Which would you choose: **Gulf-liveried Mk I or seven-litre Mk II?**

#FordGT40 #LeMans #FordVsFerrari #Goodwood #BritishMotorShow

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

🚁 Is this the aircraft that will redefine the Black Hawk mission?

The Bell MV-75 Cheyenne is being developed for the U.S. Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft programme—and at Farnborough International Airshow 2026, I had the opportunity to speak with Frank Lazzara, Bell's Director of Sales & Strategy – FLRAA.

But the really interesting story isn't just the tiltrotor configuration.

In my latest video, we take an engineering deep dive into:

⚙️ MOSA – why open architecture could transform future military aircraft upgrades
🎮 Digital fly-by-wire – managing the transition from helicopter to airplane flight
💻 Systems integration – moving away from tightly coupled, federated architectures
🚁 Lessons learned from the V-280 Valor
🔋 Where propulsion, batteries, materials and military aviation could go next

Because of the challenging audio environment at Farnborough, I've combined the best parts of my conversation with Frank with additional technical explanations, graphics and MV-75 footage to create something a little different from a conventional interview.

What interests you most about the MV-75—its tiltrotor performance, MOSA architecture, or fly-by-wire technology?

#MV75 #BellMV75 #FLRAA #Tiltrotor #MilitaryAviation #AerospaceEngineering #FarnboroughAirshow #SystemsEngineering #ApexofAviation

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

✈️ THIS PLANE HAS NO ENGINE!

No motor. No batteries. Just pedal power. 🚴✈️

At Farnborough International Airshow 2026, I met James Denton from the University of Southampton Human Powered Aircraft team to discover how you build an aircraft when the pilot is also the engine.

And the numbers are incredible:

🔹 23-metre wingspan
🔹 Only 36 kg
🔹 Powered entirely by the pilot
🔹 Future plans for a 32-metre wing
🔹 Ultimate goal: a human-powered crossing of the English Channel!

This is aerospace engineering stripped back to the fundamentals: lift, drag, weight, structures and efficiency—with only human muscle providing the power.

🎥 The full interview is LIVE NOW:
This Plane Has NO ENGINE! ✈️ Human-Powered Flight at Farnborough 2026

Would YOU volunteer to be the pilot? 😂

#HumanPoweredFlight #AerospaceEngineering #FarnboroughAirshow #AircraftEngineering #ApexofAviation #FIA2026

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

✈️ Could the future of aircraft wings have NO flaps?

One of the most fascinating technologies I discovered at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 wasn't a new aircraft... it was a new way of designing wings.

I had the opportunity to speak with Deima Timbs, CAE Specialist III at FlexSys, about their incredible morphing wing technology—a wing that changes shape in flight while maintaining a smooth aerodynamic surface.

Could this technology:
✅ Reduce drag?
✅ Improve fuel efficiency?
✅ Replace traditional flaps?
✅ Shape the next generation of commercial and military aircraft?

I asked the engineers behind the technology.

🎥 My exclusive interview is now live on the channel!

👇 Before you watch...

Would you trust an aircraft with wings that change shape instead of using conventional flaps?

👍 Yes – it's the future!

❤️ I'll need convincing!

#FarnboroughAirshow #AircraftEngineering #FlexSys #FIA2026 #Aviation #FutureOfFlight #AerospaceEngineering #Engineering #ApexofAviation

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

✈️ NEW VIDEO THIS SATURDAY!

Can Vertical Aerospace turn electric air taxis into safe, certifiable passenger aircraft?

At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, I spoke with Russ Mellor, Quality Director at Vertical Aerospace, about the new VALO eVTOL—and the enormous quality challenge behind bringing new batteries, propulsion systems and suppliers into aviation.

We discuss:

🔋 New electric-flight technology
🏭 Controlling quality across emerging suppliers
✅ Moving from prototype to certifiable production
🚁 The future of electric air mobility

With a target range of 100 miles, speeds of up to 150 mph and space for four passengers plus a pilot, VALO could offer a fascinating glimpse into the future of regional transport.

📅 Premiering Sunday, 2 August
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss it!

#VerticalAerospace #VALO #eVTOL #FarnboroughAirshow #ElectricAviation #FutureOfFlight

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

🚨 NEW INTERVIEW DROPPING TODAY! ✈️🎥

What does it take to engineer what could become the world's largest cargo aircraft?

I had the opportunity to sit down with Bruno Bachinger, Chief Engineer for the Radia WindRunner project, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to discuss the engineering behind one of the most ambitious aircraft currently in development.

If you're into aviation, aerospace engineering or massive aircraft, I think you'll enjoy this one!

👉 The interview premieres today on the channel!

But that's just the beginning...

Over the coming days I'll also be releasing exclusive interviews with:
✈️ Joby Aviation's Chief Test Pilot 👀
🚁 Bell – discussing the MV-75 Cheyenne
🛩️ ZEISS Aerospace – the cockpit of the future
🛫 ...and several more fascinating conversations from Farnborough 2026.

Which interview are you looking forward to the most?

Let me know in the comments! 👇

#FarnboroughAirshow #Aviation #AircraftEngineering #WindRunner #JobyAviation #Bell #Aerospace #Engineering

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Smart_Plan

🚨 Engineering Question:

Have you ever discovered a requirement that wasn't in the specification... but without it the product couldn't work?

That's a Derived Requirement.

They're responsible for some of the biggest surprises, redesigns, and customer discussions in engineering projects.

My latest video explains:

🔹 Derived Requirements vs Subsystem Requirements
🔹 Real-world examples
🔹 How to identify them early
🔹 Why they matter

💬 What's the most important missing requirement you've ever found?

Watch the video and let me know! 👇

#SystemsEngineering #EngineeringLife #Requirements #EngineeringManagement #AerospaceEngineering #DesignEngineering

3 months ago | [YT] | 0