Hempearth has designed the world’s first airplane that is set to be made from and powered by cannabis. This natural and earth-friendly material had been used for numerous purposes since ancient times, but in recent decades it fell into disuse due to confusion with its psychoactive cousin marijuana. This is finally changing as people realize the benefits of hemp, and this airplane is a symbol of that change.
But how does it do it, exactly?
Almost the entire plane shall be made from composite hemp fibers that are said to be 10 times stronger than steel, and this includes not only the chassis, but also everything inside of the plane including the seats, walls, and cushions.
“This plane project is our first experiment with industrial hemp, and we plan to explore many other uses. Once we establish structural testing and information from this project, we will apply it to other forms of construction and even more Hempearth products. This is the kind of future we all want here on Earth. The sky may not be the limit.”
From wingtip to wingtip, the plane shall span 36 feet, but can easily fit five individuals including a pilot and four passengers thanks to the durability of the hemp-fiber body and the lack of bulk found in commercial planes made from metal.
“In addition to being one of the world’s healthiest, and most versatile plants on earth, hemp is pound for pound 10 times stronger than steel.”This means that it can withstand a lot more weight before and breaks, and it can bend way further than metal. Great for Aviation.”
Uses Of Hemp
Here are a few of the primary uses of hemp.
Biofuel
Hemp fuel is a form of cellulosic ethanol, meaning that the biofuel is made from the fibrous stalks of the hemp plant.
Biofuels are a lot more sustainable than traditional fuels. This is because the materials used to make biofuels can be grown and harvested continuously at a sustainable rate. And hemp is widely believed to be the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient fuel crop around.
Fiber
The hemp versus cotton debate has been going on for decades. Before the cotton industry took off, hemp was used to make clothes because of the crop’s fibrous stalks. This means it’s great for weaving into cloth. Hemp fiber is pretty versatile, but its use in textiles and clothing is one of its main claims to fame.
Plastic
Believe it or not, hemp plastic is strong enough to replace oil-based plastics, filled with dangerous chemicals. Falling into the category of bioplastics (which are not yet widespread), hemp plastic has huge potential in our planet’s fight against plastic use. It’s 100% biodegradable, which means it can be thrown into a compost heap without negatively impacting the environment like other plastic does.
Building Materials
Hemp can be used to build many things, including walls, furniture, and shelves. Henry Ford once used hemp to build a body of a car that could hold up against ten times the impact of steel without denting. It was also far lighter.
With construction being responsible for consuming 40% of the world’s global energy and resources, the world needs to move away from building materials mined from the earth or harvested from forests. As a renewable resource, hemp is the perfect substitute – in the form of a mixture known as hempcrete.
