Airlander

[Anne]

There don't seem to be any previous posts about this, and I'm not sure whether it could ever be more than a niche vehicle. The BBC carried a story two years ago about its unveiling. Its UK debut flight is due next week.

It's lifted by helium, as steerable as a helicopter, can be remote-controlled, needs little infrastructure and is economical with fuel. But it's low, slow, and has a small payload (10 tonnes).

Part of the new-found attraction of craft like the Airlander is that they use roughly a third less fuel than a cargo jet and in the future could be fitted with vast arrays of solar panels. They are also affordable, with the Airlander coming it at around £30m compared with about £250m for a typical airliner.
Independent

AIRLANDER 10

The largest aircraft currently flying uses innovative technology to combine the best characteristics of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with lighter-than-air technology to create a new breed of hyper-efficient aircraft. It can stay airborne for up to five days at a time if manned, and for over 2 weeks unmanned. It will fulfil a wide range of communication, cargo carrying and survey roles in both the military and commercial sectors all with a significantly lower carbon footprint than other forms of air transport.

http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/aircraft/airlander-10




Link

AIRLANDER 50 will be the big brother for the AIRLANDER 10 and will carry over 50 tonnes of cargo with a cargo bay volume in excess of 500 cubic metres. Much of  the technology in the two aircraft is the same. The AIRLANDER 50 is designed specifically for the Cargo or Heavy Lift market and offers a lower haulage cost per tonne-km than other aircraft or bush or ice roads. It can also travel point to point without the need for any airport infrastructure so is ideal for remote access and logistics for sectors such as mining, oil & gas and humanitarian relief.

http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/aircraft/airlander-50

Much more on the BBC here
and IB Times here
The Independent here.

[Sigmetnow]

Interesting concept for niche applications.  It would seem to be a good candidate for electric engines. 
The main limitations for extended use might be the infrastructure needed (hangar, helium, fuel), and weather.  It may be more maneuverable than an airship, but it would still be vulnerable to adverse winds, downdrafts, or icing.

[Anne]

A little bit more about the Flying Bum, with a brief video including the cockpit. It's hoped to start air trials in May.
http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2016-04-12/royal-naming-for-flying-bum-airship/

(I really should have posted this thread in The Rest, as it's not clear it's going to be a solution to anything.)

[plinius]

Interesting concept for niche applications.  It would seem to be a good candidate for electric engines. 
The main limitations for extended use might be the infrastructure needed (hangar, helium, fuel), and weather.  It may be more maneuverable than an airship, but it would still be vulnerable to adverse winds, downdrafts, or icing.

Y, don't know why they don't re-introduce good old hydrogen technology. If you don't transport people, it's not a serious issue...
With that you could have a near fuel-free transportation circle in northern hemisphere winter...

[Anne]

The Airlander is set to debut at Farnborough Air Show in July if HAV can meet its target of around 20 hours of flight testing in the next six weeks or so.

More here:
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/hybrid-air-vehicles-in-race-to-debut-airlander-at-fa-425220/

[Anne]

Airlander's much delayed maiden flight took place today. Things are looking up.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/17/airlander-10-is-this-the-dawning-of-a-new-age-of-the-airship

[Tor Bejnar]

I'm reminded of Nevil Shute's Slide Rule: Autobiography of an Engineer that tells (from my memory of reading the book in 1972 or '73) of his experiences around 1930 working as a (human) 'calculator' on the R100 airship, a commercial venture, that was in competition for future contracts (like Boeing vs. Airbus) with the British Government's R101 airship.  (The linked blurb gave me the airship names [I remembered "R1??"!], and reminds me that the book was about other things too!)

(Except for his overuse of the phrase "one or two," I loved reading Nevil Shute's books!)

[AbruptSLR]

The Airlander crash landed during a test flight:

http://in.reuters.com/article/britain-crash-airlander-idINKCN10Z1GJ

[Sigmetnow]

The Airlander crash landed during a test flight:

http://in.reuters.com/article/britain-crash-airlander-idINKCN10Z1GJ

Ouch.  That had to hurt. 
But, pilots say any landing you can walk away from, is a good one.... 

[Sigmetnow]

Video of the incident.