Aeros Completes Testing of Advanced Airship Weigh-Off on Wheels (WOW) Landing Gear
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2015 -- Worldwide Aeros Corp. (Aeros), a manufacturer of airships and aerostats operating with a FAA Type and Production Certificate, announced today that functionality testing has been successfully completed on a new landing gear design for the Aeros 40E ‘Sky Dragon’ airship now in production.
Ground crews required for safe launch and recovery of conventional airships employing state-of-the-art technology present an operational drawback, which can be reduced through more precise static lift data for pilots.
The new landing gear design enhances performance, safety, and operator empowerment. It introduces real-time static lift data for airship pilots during takeoff and improves dampening force control for smoother landings. The airship’s flight management system actively controls the dampening property of the shock absorbers.
“The 40E’s Weigh-off On Wheel (WoW) system is unique, and simple but powerful,” explains Armen Amirian, Aeros’ Sr. Mechanical Engineer.
About the 40E ‘Sky Dragon:’ The 40E builds on the performance strengths of the 40D ‘Sky Dragon’ airships in global operation since 2007 for enhanced multi-role mission capabilities and surveillance/ reconnaissance support, and has the following performance characteristics:
Useful Payload: 2,200 lbs/ 1,000 kgs
Cruise Speed: 35 knots/ 65 kph
Envelope Volume: ~113K ft3 HE / 3200 m³
Speed Max: 54 knots/100 kph
Range: ~275 nm/ 315 M/ 510 Km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft/ 3,050 M
Propulsion: twin engine/vectored (160 hp)
Seating: 1+ 6
Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-D
Crew: single pilot op.
Fuel: AV100; 70.5 U.S. gal/ 267 L
Operation: VFR/ IFR (day/night)
The 40E ‘Sky Dragon’ features flexible payload integration for radar, EO/IR and communications equipment with useful payload greater than one ton, advanced vectored propulsion and control, operational cost efficiency, onboard data workstations or HD downlink for remote operation, and added levels of safety, pilot empowerment and crew/passenger comfort among other design enhancements. The 40E ‘Sky Dragon’ will flexibly support a range of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as a mobile aerial sensor platform with extended loiter (time-on-station) capability. Applications for "Sky Dragon" include border security, surveillance, early warning, search and rescue operations, port security and maritime patrol, in addition to traditional roles.
About Aeros: Founded more than 25 years ago, Worldwide Aeros Corp. (Aeros) is the world’s most innovative FAA-certified lighter-than-air (LTA) aircraft manufacturing company. 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. The company’s operations include research, development, production, operation and marketing of a family of vehicles and systems used in government and commercial applications. Learn more at http://www.aeroscraft.com.
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John Kiehle, Worldwide Aeros, Corp., http://www.aeroscraft.com, (323) 201-8374, [email protected]
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