Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander 10 will be flown by the HCA in 2018 and the company is working alongside a team of scientists and engineers to ready her for launch. Once airborne, the 92 long hybrid aircraft can stay aloft for up to five days at a time.
Hybrid Air Vehicles and Design Q have received a £60,000 Design Foundations Round 2 grant by Innovate UK to develop the ‘Airlander Luxury Tourism Design Development Project’.
Design Q, a Redditch-based design consultancy, will become Hybrid Air Vehicles preferred supplier for design and manufacture of the luxury cabin interiors created as a result of the six-month project.
“We are excited with the prospect of working on such a unique project, not only is it the largest flying aircraft in the world but it demands an interior that truly breaks new ground and provides an experience that will be unlike anything seen before,” said Howard Guy, CEO and joint founder of Design Q. “This will be something that passengers will treasure all their lives.”
As well as remaining airborne for extended periods, Airlander 10’s ability to land anywhere makes the aircraft well suited for tourists seeking hard-to-reach locations.
On completion of the trial flight in 2018, HCA plans to take the type-certified Airlander 10 to a range of destinations at their clients’ request.
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Airlander 10 Technical Data
Envelope Volume: 38,000 m³ (1,340,000 ft³)
Overall Dimensions:
Length 92 m (302 ft)
Width 43.5 m (143 ft)
Height 26 m (85 ft)
Endurance: 5 days manned
Altitude: up to 16,000 ft (4,880 m)
Speed:
Cruise 80 Knots (148 km/hr)
Loiter 20 Knots (37 km/hr)
Total Weight: 20,000 kg (44,100 lbs)
Payload capacity: up to 10,000 kg (22,050 lbs)
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I'd like to know where these are operating in the UK. The report is notably light on this. I wonder why?