Hybrid Air Vehicles has partnerd with BAE Systems to explore the use of its Airlander helium-filled aircraft
The British manufacturer of hybrid airships – Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has announced partnering with Britain’s biggest defence company – BAE Systems, to explore the use of its Airlander helium-filled aircraft in transporting equipment and surveillance.
HAV has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BAE’s FalconWorks unit to explore using the aircraft, which can stay airborne for up to 5 days, offering potential benefits versus military helicopters. The Airlander 10, HAV hopes to bring into commercial production in 2026, is attracting attention among aviation, freight and defence companies as they seek to decarbonise air transport.
The CEO of HAV – Tom Grundy, said that while travel is slower than conventional flying, the Airlander emits up to 90% less carbon and is creating demand despite the problematic past of airships, where Hindenberg, a hydrogen-filled airship caught fire in 1937, killing 36 people. In 2016 Airlander’s double-hulls, nicknamed the “Flying Bum”, crash-landed during trials, and a year later, it was pictured ripped and deflated after it came loose from moorings.
Grundy said that the technology has improved and there is a market for the Airlander, which uses aerodynamics, buoyancy and vectored thrust from four combustion engines to fly at about the same altitude as a helicopter.
Grundy said, “We’re getting the economics, we’re getting the technology, we’re getting the customers and once you have a system like that that’s working, consumers get on board.”
Referring to past crashes, Grundy said, “Passengers didn’t stop getting on board ships after the Titanic disaster”.
Spanish regional aircraft Air Nostrum has already reserved 20 Airlanders ahead of production starting. It could use the aircraft to fly the 4-hour journey between Spain and the Balearic Islands. Grundy also said that Airlanders are best suited to journeys where options are long surface transport, perhaps via ferry, or that very short but very carbon-intensive flight.
Airlanders can land anywhere flat, including on water, sand and snow, providing opportunities for defence and luxury travel. When pumped full of helium, Airlander’s hardened fabric shell is almost as long as a football pitch and the height of 6 double-decker buses, with a cabin slung below and fitted out with either 100 seats or several luxury bedrooms.
HAV’s plan is to build a factory to start making Airlanders by 2026 before 18 months of testing. The company is working to secure more investment as part of the estimated £ 300 million (U.S. $ 374.01 million) total cost of bringing it into production.
