The New Golden Age Of Airships?

A 260-ft-long prototype of a new airship is being built by Worldwide Aeros Corp in a purpose-built hangar in California. A new super-blimp that could be signal the future of air travel using hybrid airships is under construction. The 800-ft Aeroscraft ML 866 is a revolutionary airship which aims to provide a new way of moving heavy and oversized cargo, especially to areas with limited or no infrastructure. It features a new type of rigid variable buoyancy designed to control lift in all stages of air or ground operations, including the ability to offload payload without re-ballasting.

 

The craft will be able to take off and land vertically, while carrying 66 tons of cargo. The airship’s makers believe its rigid structure, vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, and the ability to operate at low speed, in hover, and from unprepared surfaces could also see it used to perform humanitarian missions. An Aeroscraft spokesperson says: It can be used to bring aid during a disaster relief, provide large medical equipment to desolate areas, or transport many people to safety. Besides creating an innovative technology that will become a global staple in society, the Aeroscraft will improve the way of life all over the globe. Picture: Aeroscraft/Rex Features