London – UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) announced on September 13 that it is 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 hopes to bring Airlander 10 into commercial production in 2026 as it is attracting attention among aviation, freight and defence companies as they seek to decarbonise air transport.
HAV said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with BAE’s FalconWorks unit to explore using the aircraft, which can stay airborne for up to five days, offering potential benefits versus military helicopters.
“While travel is slower than conventional flying, the Airlander emits up to 90% less carbon and that is creating demand despite the problematic past of airships,” said HAV’s CEO Tom Grundy. He is confident that the technology has improved and there will be 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.
According to Grundy, the company is getting the economics, the technology and the customers. Passengers didn’t stop getting on board ships after the Titanic disaster.
Air Nostrum, the Spanish regional aircraft has already reserved 20 Airlanders ahead of production starting. It could use the aircraft to fly the four-hour journey between Spain and the Balearic islands.
This will be the Airlander’s sweet spot, said Grundy, adding it is best suited to journeys where “options are long surface transport, perhaps via ferry, or that very short but very carbon intensive flight.”
Airlander’s hardened fabric shell is almost as long as a football pitch when pumped full of helium, and the height of six double decker buses, with a cabin slung below, and fitted out with either 100 seats or several luxury bedrooms.
The plan is to build a factory to start making Airlanders by 2026 before 18 months of testing. The focus is to secure more investment as part of the estimated 300 million pound ($374.01 million) total cost of bringing it into production, said Grundy. He expects the cost of a ticket to be competitive versus other modes of transport and said the Airlander can land anywhere flat, including on water, sand and snow, providing opportunities for defence and luxury travel.
