Airline orders blimps for passenger service

Spain’s Air Nostrum has become the first airline to reserve ten 100-seat airships with the goal of creating a commercial service for passengers from 2026


AIRLANDER 10

Hull: Filled with mixture of non-flammable helium and air

Tailfins
Help control and steer

Rear propulsors

Air cushion landing system

Forward propulsors

Flight deck

SPECIFICATIONS 
Endurance 5 days 
Payload 10 tonnes
Service ceiling 6,100m
Range 7,400km
Top speed 148 km/h

26m
92m
37.6 m
Airbus A320


LIFT: Combination of vectored thrust, buoyancy and aerodynamics

Vectored thrust: Four diesel engines (325 hp/each) to become electric by 2030

Aerostatic lift: Generated by helium contained within craft

Aerodynamic lift
Generated by body hull shape

Airlander emits one tenth of harmful emissions produced by jet planes


Source: Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV)
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