Will airships make a comeback? Lockheed Martin thinks so and has invested substantial amounts of money and the last 20 years into developing new technology for their Hybrid Airships.
Lockheed Martin claims that two-thirds of the world’s land areas and more than half the world’s population do not have access to paved roads or runways. These are the people and areas Lockheed Martin proposes to assist via humanitarian relief with their new airship technology.
Watch Lockheed Martin’s Hybrid Airship Concept
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.
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. More than 10 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. – Lockheed Martin
In April 2016 Amazon was granted a patent for what they call an aerial fulfillment center airship that would deliver packages to customers via autonomous drones.
So what do you think? Will airships make a comeback and soon dominate the skies?
Image by Lockheed Martin
Featured image by Lockheed Martin