Production Underway on Aeros' Next Generation Airship, '40E Sky Dragon,' Following Program Initiation with the FAA
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 30, 2014 -- Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros), a lighter-than-air (LTA) aircraft manufacturer, today announced production is underway for its newest airship design under FAA certification, the ‘40E Sky Dragon.’
Manufactured at Aeros’ engineering and production headquarters in Montebello, the airship has been optimized to address global market demand for a dependable and flexible airship with lowered operating costs that can support varied mission requirements. The 40E incorporates numerous design advancements and the latest technology to maintain Aeros’ leadership position manufacturing the world’s most technologically advanced FAA-licensed non-rigid airships. The 40E ‘Sky Dragon’ builds on the performance strengths of the 40D airship now in global operation since 2007, while incorporating operational enhancements and pilot/passenger improvements for multi-role applications including ISR, security applications, advertising, tourism, and event broadcasting.
The design provides customers in excess of one ton of useful payload capability and flexibility, as well as improved operational safety and reduced ground handling requirements. Propulsion advancements include ‘vectored thrust’ capability and control, provided by two rotating 4-cylinder engines, coupled with an electronic fuel injection system to improve fuel economy. Controllable-pitch engines enable the 40E to land on shorter fields with reduced speed and angle of attack.
The 40E will support C4ISR mission success and efficiency with multi-payload mounting systems, as well as flexibility to cover more ground with less manpower requirements in diverse scenarios like threat identification and documentation from anti-terrorism to smuggling interdiction, public event security, facility and infrastructure monitoring, and rapid response coordination, among others. The airship will provide government and commercial operators a flexible and stable elevated sensor platform with slow-loiter and extended time-on-station capabilities, while integrating the latest design and technology to deliver 24-hour imaging or monitoring capability with 360 degree field of view, as well as HD downlink and remote camera operation.
New fuel jettison provides added levels of safety in an emergency, while landing gear enhancements provide improved dampening force and greater ground clearance for propellers and empower pilots with static heaviness data during takeoff for the first time in history. The 40E airship’s strong and lightweight envelope is of multi-layer construction providing a high strength to weight ratio, as well as superior helium retention, weathering resistance and weight reduction. Advanced avionics build on existing Aeros’ fly-by-wire technology to provide the pilot(s) a modern glass cockpit with optimized informational displays and ergonomics. The cabin is also lengthened by more than 3 feet over the 40D, improving equipment capacity for workstations, while the location and sizing of windows enhance panoramic views for aerial tourism.
About Aeros: Founded more than 25 years ago, the Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros) is the world’s leading lighter-than-air, FAA-certified aircraft manufacturing company. The company’s operations include research, development, production, operation and marketing of a family of air vehicles used in government and commercial applications. Aeros has achieved multiple FAA airship type certificates and operates with an FAA Production Certificate, while featuring a product line that includes advanced airships, tethered aerostats and the Aeroscraft cargo airship. Learn more at http://www.aeroscraft.com.
John Kiehle, Worldwide Aeros, Corp., http://www.aeroscraft.com, (323) 201-8374, [email protected]
Share this article