Voliris
Voliris is a French airship builder; the company is in the development of high-tech - Hybrid airships operate; it is based in Moulins (Allier) in central France and has its own airship hangar there.
background
The French company, founded in 1999, developed a number of prototypes, including the manned, fully airworthy model Voliris 900, which was tested from 2003 and then was in commercial use for 4 years (mainly as an advertising medium). As of 2008, the company has been operating purely in development under a new owner: The models 901 and 902 were derived from the model 900 in several variants; these prototypes were developed as so-called hybrid airships, in which the aerodynamic shape of the hull creates additional lift; the company is also experimenting with remote-controlled flight. In November 2016, the model V902 ULM flew in manned flight with an envelope that was only 80m² in size as a wing and thus earned an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest airship.
In 2016, the NATAC ( Navette Aérienne de Transport Automatique de Containers ) project was also presented: it is an automated hybrid airship for the transport of 40 '/ 32 ton standard containers in rough terrain; with a projected range of 1000 km is a possible use u. a. the automated supply of logistic bases in deserts is planned. A test model on a scale of 1: 7 flew successfully for the first time on August 30, 2017.
Voliris 900
The first manned airship - the Voliris 900 (F-WAAN) - made its maiden flight on June 26, 2003. The airship was prepared for its flight in Hangar Y , one of the oldest airship hangars in the world.
The ship is designed as an impact airship . Particularly noticeable is the suspension of the gondola on ropes under the cover, as is common with balloons. The shell was developed and manufactured by the Russian company RosAeroSystems . The gondola itself consists of a half-open, glazed cockpit and the drive behind it. It is very reminiscent of the goldfish bowl cockpits of helicopters. Directly behind the cockpit, the shape of the gondola merges smoothly into the casing of a fan for the vertical thrust. It is driven by the piston engine behind it, which also drives the propeller for propulsion. The ship had the new registration number F-03VS.
Technical specifications
- Length: 31 m
- Diameter: 8 m
- Structure volume: 1000 m³
- Carrying gas : 900 m³ helium
- Shell surface: 615 m²
- Drive: 100 hp engine
- Top speed: 85 km / h
- Travel / march speed: 75 km / h
- Flight time: 5 hours
- Crew: a pilot and a passenger
Web links
Voliris website (English and French)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Futura Sciences: La Natac, un dirigeable français révolutionnaire signé Voliris , February 24, 2017, accessed on October 17, 2017 (French)