German Navy HU-16 Albatross JATO takeoff and patrol mission (1965)

Did you know an albatross can soar for several hundred kilometres without flapping its wings? This legendary bird has inspired the #AlbatrossOne – our remote-controlled aircraft demonstrator that is the first aircraft to trial in-flight, freely flapping wing-tips, which could help reduce drag and fuel burn. fly.airbus.com/IntroducingAlbatrossOne | Airbus

Albatrosses — particularly the majestic wandering albatross — are among nature’s most extraordinary fliers, capable of gliding thousands of kilometers across the open ocean without flapping their wings for hours. Their secret lies in a technique called dynamic soaring, which allows them to harness shifting wind currents just above the ocean’s surface. By skillfully looping through layers of air moving at different speeds, they gain lift with minimal energy use — a remarkable adaptation for life