Lisa Airplanes Hy-Bird
They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn. Considering current greenhouse emissions concerns and what eco-aircraft producer Lisa Airplanes has on the drawing board, the sun may soon be shining on the aviation world. The Savoie, France–based company was founded in 2004 with the intention of creating an environmentally conscious segment of the light aircraft market. Its highly efficient $400,000 Akoya made its maiden flight in August 2007, shortly after Lisa Airplanes announced its plan to develop a solar-powered aircraft, the Hy-Bird (shown). The plane, with a two-seat cockpit and a tailfin-mounted propeller, has the same fuselage as the Akoya, though an electric engine fueled by photovoltaic and hydrogen cells powers the Hy-Bird for up to 14 hours of flight, and solar panels cover 172 square feet of wing surface. Expected to eventually cost about twice the price of its predecessor, the Hy-Bird will remain in the prototype phase until it takes off next year.

Lisa Airplanes, +33.479.657.599, www.lisa-airplanes.com

Embraer Ipanema
With Brazil leading the world in sugarcane-based ethanol production, it is no wonder the country’s foremost—and one of the world’s largest—aircraft manufacturers, Embraer, makes a plane that uses the organic compound as fuel. The Ipanema was a highlight at last year’s International Biofuel Exposition in São Paulo, Brazil, near Embraer’s manufacturing headquarters. Equipped with a tri-blade prop, the plane has a 138-mph speed at 75 percent of maximum power, with a 380-mile range. The Ipanema is the first series aircraft, and the only one to date, to be certified for alcohol-fueled flight, and since 2005 Embraer has delivered over 50 of the booze-powered planes. Using ethanol instead of gasoline improves overall performance and efficiency, in addition to reducing operating and maintenance costs. Although the plane’s primary application is for dusting crops, the Brazilian Air Force and recreational pilots also find it useful for towing motorless gliders.

Embraer, 954.359.3700, www.embraer.com