Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some
form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle
my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which
all began in Mayo, MD
...
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images
and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.
The Gravity Plane
Here is a unique concept called the "Gravity Plane" that theoretically can take off, climb to altitude,
cruise, descend, and land using only stored helium and built-in air compressors. It purports to be entirely
self-powered, but in reality we know that conservation of energy requires that 100% efficiency be realized
in order for that to be so. Still, it is an interesting idea. There are currently automated, unmanned
submarines that employ a similar principle for bobbing up and down through the oceans to collect research
data.
While there are lots of technical hurdles to overcome, it is an approach to "clean" flight that should
be explored further, if for no other reason than to rule it out as a possibility. Maybe this would make
a good radio controlled modeling project for someone. I'd do it, but just don't have the time. Come
to think of it, there might be some stimulus money out there for funding such a green concept.