Tupolev Tu-144

A Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic transport jet lifts off the runway at Russia’s Zhukovsky Air Development Center in September 1998. NASA teamed with American and Russian aerospace industries for an extended period in a joint international research program featuring the Russian-built Tu-144LL. The object of the program was to develop technologies for a proposed future second-generation supersonic airliner to be developed in the 21st Century.

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Piper Cub Catapult Takeoff
February 9, 2026

Piper Cub Catapult Takeoff

An industrious aircraft salesman develops a system of elastic bands to launch his Piper Cub from small clearings, enabling operation from his backyard.
Pan Am Helicopter Transfer
January 29, 2026

Pan Am Helicopter Transfer

A ramp view of passengers transferring between an airliner and a helicopter for quick and easy access to Manhattan.
Tangential Runway Concept
December 15, 2025

Airport Design: The Tangential Runway Concept

A novel airport design concept emerged in the 1940s, promising speed and efficiency, but ultimately failed to overcome regulatory and operational realities.