One of the most prestigious air shows in the world, taking place this week in Farnborough, England, is serving visitors a rich menu of aviation delights. In addition to commercial aircraft, helicopters, and fighter jets, attendees can also encounter airships. Among them is the British Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) presenting the Airlander 10, potentially the longest flying machine in the world, although production is expected to start within the next two years. George Land, the director of the commercial department, believes that „electric airships will be a real game-changer,“ as he convinces potential customers and investors at the trade fair near London.
The company has been striving for over two decades to bring back large airships to the skies and is now very close to achieving this goal. Led by former Airbus engineer Tom Grundy, the firm is currently working on certifying the airship with the British Civil Aviation Authority, which is expected to be completed later this year. The first aircraft, with a planned initial production rate of 24 per year, is set to be delivered to customers‘ hangars in 2028, according to HAV’s plans.
The Airlander 10 prototype has already taken to the skies, undergoing six successful tests between 2016 and 2017. However, after the last test, it had to make an emergency landing due to a tether line snagging on power cables, causing the front of the aircraft to hit the ground. While the incident resulted in no injuries to the crew, it delayed the airship’s journey into the skies by several years. „We are ready to show the world that efficient and low-emission airships can be beneficial,“ Land states confidently.
Airlander 10, the airship from the British Hybrid Air Vehicles.|Profimedia
Land is convincing customers and investors at Farnborough with a range of arguments. He highlights the significant reduction in emissions that airship operators can achieve. The airship’s fabric-laminated hull filled with helium consumes significantly less fuel during takeoff than jet aircraft. Horizontal movement is provided by a quartet of engines, which in the initial planned configuration will run on standard aviation fuel and carry the aircraft up to a distance of 3700 kilometers. Even so, they are expected to create 75% less emissions than comparable aircraft.
Another configuration includes a hybrid version with two combustion engines and two hybrid engines. In the hybrid version, the aircraft is expected to have a range of 750 kilometers, while using only electric motors would allow for a range of 350 kilometers. HAV plans to have a fully electric version with zero emissions by 2030.
The advantages of airships do not end there, according to the manufacturer. Land mentions their quiet operation and the ability to take off from almost anywhere – including grass, sand, or water. The Airlander does not require expensive infrastructure for takeoff or landing, such as airports. The ninety-eight-meter-long aircraft, potentially the longest in the world, is expected to reach a maximum speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour, reach a height of up to six kilometers, and accommodate up to 130 passengers.
The manufacturer also envisions using Airlanders for long-distance cargo transport, where predominantly combustion engine configurations would be utilized. An empty airship with this propulsion could fly up to 7400 kilometers to collect goods. When asked about the Airlander 10’s fuel consumption, Land only provided a general response, stating that it depends on the specific use.
The wreckage of the airship after the 2017 accident: The 2017 accident.|Profimedia
Spanish Air Nostrum, the largest regional airline in Spain, has already shown interest in the upcoming airship. They have reserved ten slots and plan to reduce their carbon footprint by incorporating them into their fleet. „Short-haul flights are under the most pressure to decarbonize,“ Land points out.
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership from Scotland have also reserved airships. They intend to transport passengers and cargo across the sparsely populated northern part of the country with up to ten aircraft.
According to the company’s CEO Grundy, the total value of all current orders for twenty-four aircraft was expected to exceed one billion dollars by mid-June. Land told e15 that the current value is now over 1.4 billion. The price of one aircraft is expected to range from tens of millions of pounds to higher hundreds of millions of crowns, depending on the configuration.
Airships could also attract customers in the defense sector. The British, in collaboration with the British defense giant BAE Systems, are developing the Airlander for these purposes. The airship can carry up to ten tons of payload, such as various surveillance devices. „On NATO’s eastern border with Russia, a number of devices fly in the air for several hours and then need to refuel. The Airlander can stay in the air for up to five days with minimal fuel consumption,“ Land reveals potential uses.
However, for the Airlander 10 to return to the skies and later be fully integrated into commercial aviation, more than successful certification will be required. As Czech Air Navigation Services spokesperson Jan Klíma points out, legislative adjustments regarding aviation operations will likely be necessary. „It will be necessary to consider the maneuverability and speed of the aircraft. For example, around airports, quick reactions and changes in direction are often necessary. When supersonic Concordes began flying in the past, legislative changes were also necessary due to their poorer maneuverability,“ Klíma reminds.