Let's get this straight right off the bat: this is not a green car. But, since we've shown you Jay Leno's EcoJet, we thought that you might like to take a look at something along those same lines... only much, much cheaper! Like Leno's EcoJet, which is based on the underpinnings of a modern Corvette, the Bradley GT is a kit car based on the running gear of the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle. In the case of this one on eBay, though, that original air-cooled horizontally-opposed four cylinder is no longer present. In its place happens to be a jet turbine engine from Boeing. Of course, if the new owner would like to be a bit more environmentally conscious, jet turbines run just dandy on biodiesel...

Related:

• Jay Leno cracks corn jokes but his jet-powered sports car runs on biodiesel
• Have you been following the progress on Jay Leno's EcoJet?

[Source: eBay Motors]

Developed by Boeing with participation from NASA and built in England by Cranfield Aerospace Ltd, the X-48B was given its first flight tests yesterday, which it seems to have passed. The 500 pound "flying wing", which sports a 21 foot wingspan, was flown remotely by a pilot on the ground. The machine was built to 8.5 percent scale, and is made from composites. The flight was accomplished with three turbojet engines.

Why is this important? I'll let NASA explain the benefits: "increased volume for carrying capacity, efficient aerodynamics for reduced fuel burn and possibly significant reductions in noise due to propulsion integration options."

So, for all of our readers out there who are tired of hearing about airplanes designed to cut fuel consumption which are completely conceptual, here is a real one, albeit unmanned. If flights continue to go as planned, though, it would not be too surprising to see planes like this overhead.

Related:

• Travel by an eco-friendly flying saucer?
• First flight using biofuel to take off soon from Boeing and Air New Zealand
• For those who dream of flight, here are some green options and busted myths
• Reviewing the past and investigating the future of solar flight

[Source: NASA]

• Boeing likes algae as a source for new biofuels
• Halophyte-derived biofuels may be capable of powering aircraft

• AFVI Show: Ways to save billions of gallons of fuel at the nation's airports

Boeing is getting an early start on what it sees as a possible emerging market, that of hydrogen fuel cell powered electric airplanes. They have created an electric airplane which generates its electricity from a fuel cell. The machine is a standard propeller driven plane with a 53.5 foot wingspan which was converted to store the lithium ion batteries, the fuel cell and the hydrogen storage tanks. During takeoff, where the highest draw of power is required, the lithium ion batteries provide the power to the motor, and at constant cruising speed of 62 mph, the Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell provides the power.

Alternatively, Boeing is investigating the possibility of using fuel cells to generate the electricity for secondary systems, as opposed to fossil fuel powered generators or a take off from the primary engine. The full press release is after the break.

Continue after the break to read the entire press release.

[Source: Boeing]