Open up your mind and say, ahh...

Boeing announced today it has completed flight testing the Rolls-Royce powered 787 Dreamliner for type certification with the Federal Aviation Administration. The final flight took place Saturday and was a relatively simple simulation of a flight dispatch with a failed generator and failed fuel flow indicator.

The 90 minute flight from Billings, Montana back to the factory at Paine Field north of Seattle was the end of a flight test program that started on December 15, 2009. Seven flight test aircraft have completed more than 1,700 flights totaling more than 4,800 flight hours.

Flight testing with the General Electric powered 787 will continue and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Saturday’s final flight test should mean the airplane will be issued a type certificate in the next few weeks and launch customer All Nippon Airways will begin service some time next month.

It’s probably no coincidence that a video was released on Saturday (after the jump) showing the 787 buzzing a familiar tower and performing a host of impressive maneuvers while evading an Airbus A380 (h/t FlightBlogger).

Photo: Boeing, Video: 3-D Aviation

German airplane maker PC-Aero is progressing in the development of its single seat electric airplane, the Elektra One. The sleek looking composite aircraft underwent static load testing before Christmas (picture after the jump) and the company is hoping for a first flight next month.

The Elektra One is the first of three electric aircraft planned by the company according to company CEO Calin Gologan. PC-Aero also hopes to build a two and four seat version in the coming years.

PC-Aero hopes the 16 Kilowatt (21 horsepower) motor will propel the Elektra One to a top speed of more than 100 miles per hour. Though we’re guessing the optimistic endurance of three hours would be at a much slower speed.

PC-Aero’s Elektra One undergoes static load testing on its wings.

The new electric airplane was first unveiled last April at Aero Friedrichshafen, Europe’s premier general aviation trade show. At the time the airplane was little more than an airframe. But back in November the company demonstrated a working electric motor system on the airplane (video below), and now with static testing complete, PC-Aero is planning for a first flight in February.

In addition to its electric airplane plans, the company also is developing the idea of a solar hangar to house the airplanes. The company claims with a 430 square foot roof covered in solar panels, a pilot could fly for more than 300 hours on the sun charged batteries (based on PC-Aero’s calculations for southern Germany).

The company also lists plans for both a version of its Elektra One with an extended wingspan and built in solar panels to supplement the power supply both on the ground and in the air, as well as an aerobatic version with more then double the power and a reinforced airframe.

Photos/Video: PC-Aero

Mini, for whatever reason, is rolling into the Paris Motor Show with an electric scooter it says “meets the needs of the young urban generation” because “it’s spontaneous, flexible and CO2-free.”

British model Agyness Deyn yanked the sheets off three versions of the E-Scooter Concept in London on Wednesday night, and she sounded more excited than she looks in the pic.

“Living a city life,” she said, “it is important to get around quickly. I was thrilled to hear Mini is developing an environmentally friendly scooter, their reputation for cool design is well-known. I can’t wait to try driving one!”

Mini didn’t offer any specs beyond saying the E-Scooter is powered by an electric motor and recharged from a wall socket. Instead of a key, the scooters start with a smartphone app. Sillier still, GPS software will alert you to other E-Scooter riders in the area and flash your headlights when you pass them.

There are three “interpretations” of the design by Adrian van Hooydonk, senior VP of design for BMW Group. One is a two-seater done up in the same colors (matte charcoal and yellow) as the Mini-E electric prototype. The second is a single-seater Mini calls “almost purist in design.” The third draws on British ’60s pop culture, particularly “the distinctive graphics of the Mod era.”

The E-Scooter pays homage to the classic Italian scooters of yore, but somehow we doubt trendy urban hipsters will be trading in their vintage Vespas and old-school mopeds.

Btw, Smart is working on one, too.

Photos: Mini. More after the jump.

One scooter, three versions.The two-seater is on the left, the “Mod” is in the middle and the “purist” single-seater is on the right. Only London gets to see the Mod; the other two will be shown at the Paris auto show.

The Mod model, modeled by a model.

Room for two on an E-Scooter done up in the same colors as the Mini E electric car.

Mini says this one’s a single-seater with “purist” design that “nods to the British heritage of the brand.”

Porsche’s latest iteration of its iconic Speedster will be unveiled next month at the Paris Motor Show. Built on the current 911, the newest Speedster will be limited to just 356 cars, an homage to the original.

Like the original 356 Speedster introduced in 1953, the new 911 Speedster offers just two seats, a raked back windshield, and a boost in performance over the standard model. And of course it’s topless, or at least there’s no standard convertible top.

Unlike the original Speedster that gained much of the performance through simplicity and minimalism including plastic side windows, the newest Speedster finds performance through technology and a full option list.

The standard 3.8 liter flats six delivers 408 horsepower, 23 more than the Carrera S and is mated with the seven speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe gearbox. The double clutch, semi-automatic transmission features Porsche’s new paddle shifters rather than the old push buttons. An active suspension management system and ceramic composite brakes are also standard.

The Speedster name was revived back in 1988 and some Porsche purists think the now standard double bubble rear hood lid lacks the clean lines of the original. Either way both the original 356 Speedsters and the newer 911 Speedsters both command high resale values. 1950s era cars regularly sell well north of six figures and continue to be some of the most sought after cars in the Porsche community.

The newest Speedster comes in the model specific “pure blue” color, though Porsche concedes customers can order the car in Carrera White at no extra cost.

No word on pricing in the U.S., but Porsche says the German version will be available in December for just under 202,000 euros.

More photos, including a 1956 Speedster, after the jump.

The original 356 Speedster (1956 model)

The double bubble rear lid of the 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Interior of new Porsche 911 Speedster

Photos: Porsche

There’s nothing like the food emporiums in the basements of Japanese department stores. They are huge, free samples are offered, and the products are beautifully packaged and displayed. Many of the items are expensive (like $200 cantaloupes) but not everything is unaffordable.

On our recent vacation to Japan, we visited a few food emporiums for lunch and for snacks. I was eager to see first-hand a heart shaped watermelon (as posted on Boing Boing last year), and sure enough, I found one. What a beauty! And the price has gone down — last year they cost $150, but this year you can steal one for about $100.

See my photos of watermelons shaped like cubes and pyramids after the jump.