Tony Stephenson
An old idea has been reborn and is set to transform the way that heavy freight - such as offshore drilling rigs and saw mills - is transported across the continents.
Using principles first developed in the 1930s, German company Cargolifter is set to launch a fleet of giant helium-filled airships by 2004 with the first, known as the CL160, ready for use by 2001.
Over 260m (850ft) long and as tall as a 27-storey building the CL160 will carry a crew of 10 to 12 and be capable of transporting loads of up to 160t (350,000lb) directly from a manufacturing site to the customer.
The airships will achieve cruising speeds of more than 54kt (100km/h) and a range of 11,000km (6,000nm). They will emit minimal exhaust, making them environmentally friendly.
The company is developing a worldwide network of bases and a satellite system to track the fleet across the continents.
Using airships is expected to improve profitability as it allows manufacturers to build in one piece and speeds up delivery. The airships are being built near Berlin, Germany. A second assembly site in the USA is planned.
Source: Flight Daily News
