São Paulo receives Paulista Aerospace Museum, one of the world's largest military aviation museums

The city of São Paulo is about to inaugurate the Paulista Aerospace Museum (MAPA), located at Campo de Marte, in the northern zone of the capital. This museum, officially announced by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in a ceremony held this Monday (6), promises to become one of the world's largest military aviation museums.

Structure and Collection of the Complex

The complex has a total area of 100,000 m2 and features ten themed hangars. Its collection may include up to one hundred aircraft. The FAB described this project as the greatest cultural achievement of its history. Although the activation phase occurred recently, public entry is only scheduled for 2027, depending on the progress of the remaining construction stages.

The undertaking results from a collaboration between the FAB and the Museu Asas de Um Sonho. The main purpose is to preserve and disseminate the memory of national aviation while using exhibitions and interactive installations to bring visitors closer to the aerospace universe.

Details of the Ten Themed Hangars

Hangar Zero One will serve as the access point to the circuit, displaying miniature airplanes, propellers, helmets, historical photographs, and a lounge equipped with ejection seats. This space also houses the Blue Hall, focused on figures in Brazilian aviation, and a section illustrating the evolution of aviation through a timeline.

Hangar 02 will function as a reception area, offering services such as a restaurant, water fountains, restrooms, and support. Hangar 03 will have an adapted space for visitors with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and will house the museum's future shop.

A notable aspect of the project is Hangar 04, where the public can closely observe the processes of aircraft restoration and maintenance. Hangar 05 will gather aircraft arranged to demonstrate the progression of aviation over time, and it will also host the large mural created by urban artist Mena.

Hangars 06 and 07 will be dedicated to the activities of the Brazilian Air Force, containing materials on air traffic control and search and rescue operations, including simulations and audiovisual resources. Hangar 08 will be configured as an observation deck overlooking Campo de Marte, featuring areas for rest and picnics.

The focus on the space universe will be concentrated in Hangar 09, which will cover rockets, satellites, launch centers, and Brazil's contribution to space missions. Finally, Hangar 10 will be primarily directed at schoolchildren, offering educational and immersive workshops and activities.

Initial Presentations and Art

In the initial phase, the FAB exhibited Hangar Zero One and part of Hangar 05, covering approximately 2% of the total project. At the entrance, visitors find a thematic environment with miniature aircraft and aeronautical components. The route continues through the Blue Hall, where a suspended model of the 14-Bis appears to hover over the environment, along with tributes to prominent figures in Brazilian aviation.

A chronological exhibition details the evolution of aviation. The site also displays a life-size replica of the 14-Bis, donated by parachutist Luigi Cani, and the Demoiselle ultralight. Furthermore, the space features a mural of about 65 meters, signed by urban artist Gabriel Menezes, known as Mena, which celebrates moments in the history of Brazilian aviation and pays tribute to Santos Dumont.

nplus1.ruJuly 6, 14:40

Pisa University Students Set World Record for Paper Airplane Size

Students from the University of Pisa, with the support of Italian YouTuber Jacopo D'Alezio, entered the Guinness Book of Records by creating the world's largest paper airplane. This flying apparatus was named ICARUS.

Characteristics and Record Testing

ICARUS has significant dimensions: its wing has a span of 20 meters, a length of seven meters, and a mass of approximately 29 kilograms. During the official record registration, which took place on June 25th in Bologna, the paper glider managed to cover a distance of 59 meters indoors. According to the established rules, the plane had to travel at least 15 meters, and the launch had to be performed by one person from a platform no higher than three meters.

Structural Features of the Airplane

In developing ICARUS, the students followed the principles of classical aeronautical engineering. To increase the structural rigidity without significantly increasing the weight, the wing was designed using a honeycomb structure consisting of spars and ribs glued from paper. Paper with a density of 120 grams per square meter was used for the load-bearing parts, while the outer skin was made of lighter paper with a density of 40 grams per square meter. Double tail fins were provided to ensure the glider's stability.

Creation Process and Record Comparison

The team spent several months designing and creating prototypes, during which about 300 kilograms of paper and 60 kilograms of glue were consumed. It is worth noting that the previous record, set in 2013, belonged to the Technical University of Braunschweig, where students built a paper airplane with a wingspan of 18 meters that also traveled the same distance. Furthermore, in 2023, students from Switzerland set a world acceleration record for electric vehicles by designing the racing car Mythen, which accelerated from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 0.956 seconds over a distance of 12.3 meters.