A French polar tourism company has reserved the Airlander 10 aircraft from UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles.
Grands Espaces, which was founded in 1998 offers polar expedition cruises aboard small ships and yachts. The company plans to expand and offer excursions to “less explored regions of the world, including the Arctic” from 2028 using the Airlander 10.
The Airlander 10 is a 302 x 143ft (92 x 43.5m) helium-filled airship that is part lighter-than-air blimp and part airplane. The aircraft will have a range of 4,600 miles (7,400km), a top speed of around 80mph (130km/h) and will be able to stay airborne for up to five days.
The first Airlander 10s are to be fueled by kerosene, but according to Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) it will achieve a 90% fuel emissions reduction compared to equivalent aircraft. The company plans to switch the aircraft to hydrogen fuel cell systems in the future for zero emissions flights.
According to HAV the company now has an order book worth more than £1 billion (US$1.2 billion). European regional operator Air Nostrum also has 20 Airlander 10’s on order.
A key factor in the latest order will have been Airlander’s capability to takeoff and land from any reasonably flat surface, including water and ice. The hybrid air vehicle also has a minimal requirement for fixed infrastructure that will help to sustainably expand Grands Espaces’ services, offering improved access to areas that cannot be easily reached by conventional aircraft or boat.
The order is another step forward in Airlander 10’s entry into service program. Production of Airlander is set to start this year in a new factory in South Yorkshire, UK. The company is targeting a production rate of 24 aircraft a year and to employ more than 1,200 people.
George Land, executive director of sales at Hybrid Air Vehicles said, “Airlander is an aircraft that brings great possibilities to the world of travel and tourism, offering more services and new experiences without the negative effects legacy aircraft have on the planet. This agreement with Grands Espaces is so important to us because of our shared values of sustainable growth and responsibility and respect for the environment.
Christian Kempf, founder and CEO of Grands Espaces said, “We always move forward with a pioneering spirit. We have worked for four years with HAV to prepare for this project and partnership. The signing of this reservation agreement is a significant step forward. We find in HAV the pioneering and innovative spirit that resonates with us, and we are confident that we will achieve great things together.”
HAV is also developing the Airlander 50, a larger version of the hybrid airship suitable for freight applications as well as passenger ones. The company is also partnering with BAE Systems to examine potential defense applications for the Airlander.
The Airlander originally started development in 2009 for the US Air Force with logistics and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance uses in mind.
