Hybrid airship
Hybrid airships (also hybrid airships ) combine the advantages of heavier-than-air technology ( english heavier-than-air , HTA with) lighter-than-air technology (Engl. Lighter-than-air , LTA ). The necessary lift is generated on the one hand by the fact that the aircraft is filled with a lifting gas (like a conventional airship ), on the other hand z. B. additionally attached wings provide aerodynamic lift. The aerodynamic lift can make up significantly more than 50% of the total lift.
properties
Hybrid airships combine the advantages of airships and aircraft. They are easier to use on the ground than conventional airships because they are less sensitive to gusts. No large ground crews and no holding masts are required. Hybrid airships could use conventional airports and roll on the ground on their own.
The flight performance is better than that of conventional airships and the amount of lifting gas required (for an identical payload) is lower.
The disadvantage compared to conventional airships is that hybrid airships are not able to hover in place in order to deposit loads from the air with pinpoint accuracy. A runway is usually required.
Examples are the prototype Lockheed Martin P-791 , which took off for the first time in 2006, the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle from Northrop Grumman (first flight 2012) and the Airlander project .
See also
supporting documents
- Hybrid airship for surveillance of Afghanistan : Aircraft could do reconnaissance work as early as mid-2010, press release of September 24, 2009.