Aeros Begins Production Of New Airship

Aeroscraft Corporation (Aeros) begins production of its newest airship design under FAA certification, the ‘40E Sky Dragon.’

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 40E will support C4ISR mission success and efficiency with multipayload 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.