"My dream is that these transposable elements will be tools that we can use to make the mouse more like the fruit fly, " says David Largaespada, a researcher at the University of Minnesota.

FORBES: Glowing Mice From China And Other Oddities

Its ability to take off and land like a helicopter yet fly like an airplane, combined with its capacity to haul more troops and equipment farther, faster and with greater survivability than existing helicopters ensures that it will be of enormous value in future actions requiring long-range, swift and stealthy projection of ground forces.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Pentagon V-22 decision equals true transformation

Other airlines like British Airways are downsizing, to fly smaller planes on more frequent schedules.

BBC: The future of flying