The world's largest aircraft "Airlander 10" scheduled to be test flight within 2015

An airship with a huge fuselage with a total length of 92 meters and an overall height of 26 meters "Airlander 10"is. Except for the size of the wings, it surpasses all existing planes in all length, width and heightThe world's largestThe Airlander 10, which is an aircraft of the aircraft, is being developed with the aim of starting commercial use in 2016, and test flights are scheduled to be carried out in 2015.

Airlander 10: World's largest aircraft slowly drifts toward commercial use | Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/04/airlander-10-worlds-largest-aircraft-slowly-drifts-towards-commercial-use/

Airlander 10: up close with the gigantic airship the US Army wanted | The Verge
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/8/5880061/airlander-10-photo-essay

The figure of Airlander 10 kept in the hangar. SlenderCoppépanIt is shaped like two arranged, the white surface has become a hanging impression. Beside, you can see the propeller which will be attached to the side of the hull.


Looking at the hull from the front, it looks just like a butt. Airlander 10 floats up with buoyancy by filling the inside of its huge hull with helium lighter than airairshipis.


When turning backward, the hull is shaped like three parts. Like many airships, Airlander 10 also has a frame inside the hull, so it will not be perfect when you are parked on the ground.


Angle that can understand huge hull height well. Compared to tables, lighting fixtures, and hangars placed on the left side of the photo, it might be possible to feel the scale feeling.Hull data sheet (PDF)According to Airlander 10, the hull dimension is 92.0 m in total length × 43.5 m in width × 26 m in height and can carry up to 10 tons of people and cargopayloadI have the ability. The volume of the hull is 380,000 cubic meters, which is the so-calledTokyo DomeIt is also equivalent to one-third.


This Airlander 10 was originally for the US military in EnglandHybrid Air VehiclesIt was developed by HAV company. Utilizing the characteristics of an airship with high quietness, a reconnaissance aircraft "LEMV"(LOngENduranceMUlti-IntelligenceVEhicle: a long-time flight multipurpose information collecting equipment), but as the budget cuts down, the plan will be forced to stop. HAV has bought the hull from the US military and brought it back to the UK to continue development.

Although the possibility as a military aircraft has almost disappeared Airlander 10, it is said that development is being pursued aiming at use as a transport machine and a high-end cruise aircraft after that. In the following movie, you can see the appearance of Airlander 10 which was successful in flight experiments when it was developed as a military aircraft.

LEMV First Flight Take Off - YouTube


In February 2015, the HAV got 3.4 million pounds (about 600 million yen) from the British government, 2.5 million euros (about 320 million yen) from the European Commission in March, andCloud FundingIt has succeeded in installing funds of 600 thousand pounds (about 100 million yen) through it, and it is a situation that shows the expectation gathered from each side.

Because it was disassembled at the time of transportation from the United States, the cockpit seat is kept detached from the hull.


The cockpit is laid out for two-seater, but only one pilot is required for actual operation. Since it is possible to move a sheet for the first officer who does not need it immediately, it seems possible to make it a viewing seat that makes use of the wide glass area.


Space for placing cargo and passengers is spreading behind the cockpit and its volume is 77.9 cubic meters, which is almost the same as one 40-foot container. If you think that a container is hanging under an airship, it may be able to understand the approximate scale feeling.


Four propellers are mounted on the hull to obtain propulsive power. With a 4.0 liter · V8 direct injection turbo diesel engine generating 350 horsepower per propeller, it is possible to fly the hull at a maximum speed of 80 knots (about 148 km / h) with a total of 1400 horsepower power.


Carbon fiber is used for the hull frame, and it seems that weight reduction is aimed at. Although Kevlar fiber is used as a material for balloons that contain helium gas, this is the highest peak of yacht racing "America's CupThe same as the sail used in "is used, high durability is considered. Since incombustible helium is used for buoyancy gas, it seems like a German airship · Hindenburg issue in 1937Explosion accidentIt is said that it will not happen.


The biggest feature of airship type aircraft such as Airlander 10 is its economy. The fuel required to carry the same amount of baggage is only about one third of that of a conventional aircraft and more energy efficiency can be achieved by installing solar panels. It is expected to be used as a clean energy transport machine / aircraft of an unprecedented level and as a quiet passenger aircraft with high quietness.

The first thing that comes to mind as an airplane that was developed as a military aircraft and subsequently born into a passenger aircraft isBoeing 747 type aircraft, Commonly known as "jumbo jet". Although the B 747 built a mass transport age by airplane by making full use of its high mounting capability, it became an unprecedented big hit machine, but in fact the Airlander 10 will come to be widely used in the same way taking advantage of its own characteristics Or, I'd like to watch them interestingly.

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The overwhelming huge world's largest aircraft "Airlander 10" is released in fully assembled state - GIGAZINE