Lockheed Martin has recently released this video of its Hybrid Airship on YouTube. With unlimited access to isolated locations around the globe, Hybrid Airships safely and sustainably support a wide range of activities in areas with little to no infrastructure. The airship offers the simplicity of a pickup truck by carrying cargo loads and personnel in and out of remote areas daily, not just certain seasons or only after major road, rail or airport infrastructure is developed.
To help make these Hybrid Airships available to the world, Lockheed Martin is using Hybrid Enterprises as its exclusive, authorized, worldwide reseller of our Hybrid Airships and related aftermarket value-added services.
Lockheed Martin has invested more than 20 years to develop the Hybrid Airship’s technology, prove its performance and ensure there are compelling economics for various markets who would benefit from using this platform. Almost eight years ago, the team built and flew the technology demonstrator known as the P-791, which successfully demonstrated all the technologies needed to make this real. Since then, the team has completed all required FAA certification planning steps for a new class of aircraft and they are ready to begin construction of the first commercial model and the completion of the FAA Type certification process.
Source: Website
LM and others have been working on this technology for over 40 years. I worked for one of the envelop builders in the early 80’s.
It will be interesting to see if these craft actually get of the ground this time (Pun intended).
Niel