China completed the first flight of its four-seater electric aircraft from the north-eastern city of Shenyang as the country pursues ambitions to develop battery-powered aircraft for short-haul transport.
The Made-in-China RX4E plane, which weighs 1200 kilos, can fly about 1.5 hours or 300 kilometres on a single charge, according to the state-owned Xinhua News Agency.
"The RX4E aircraft has a huge market prospect. It can be used in a number of fields such as short-distance transportation, pilot training, sightseeing, aerial photography and aerial mapping," Zhao Tienan, deputy head of China's Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA).
The development of electric and hybrid planes is coinciding with the growing "flight-shaming" movement by climate change protesters seeking to reduce commercial flying and urging for dramatic cuts to carbon emissions. Commercial flying accounts for around 2.5 per cent of global carbon emissions.
The RX4E, which is 8.4 metres long and has a wingspan of 13.5 metres, is developed by China's Liaoning General Aviation Academy.
"The RX4E aircraft has a great market space and prospect,” Mr Tienan said.
The aircraft is made of carbon fibre composite material, making it lightweight, with the ability to take off on grassland and gravel surfaces.
The plane will be used in short-distance transport, pilot training, sightseeing, aerial photography and aerial mapping, Mr Tienan said, according to the Chinese news agency.
An uptick in development of hybrid and electric aircraft runs in parallel with rising consumer awareness of the carbon-dioxide impact of jet emissions.
European aerospace giant Airbus has targeted reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 75 per cent by 2050. The company is targeting a zero-emissions plane, but said that given the relative immaturity of the technology it’s likely to have to develop a hybrid model first.
The majority of other developments are focused on smaller aircraft. Zunum Aero, backed by Boeing and JetBlue, aims to bring a hybrid-electric commuter model to market by 2022.
MagniX is developing a propulsion system for an all-electric plane with a similar timeline.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
