Our goal at Hybrid Air Vehicles is to change the future of aviation through Airlander. Therefore at the start of 2018 we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments and achievements demonstrated by Airlander and her dedicated team in 2017, as it is these that will enable us to deliver robust, reliable, efficient and effective solutions to our customers in the future.
Following last year’s ground incident, Airlander has now been recovered into the hangar. At present, our team of experts are finalising the investigation into what happened, in tandem with our insurers. Further details will be made public after the full investigation is concluded and reported to relevant authorities later this year.
February – April
Repairs & Improvements Unveiled – At the outset of 2017 the Airlander team were busy completing the final repairs and upgrades to the aircraft before they were officially unveiled in February. The BBC were invited to Cardington Hangar 1 to introduce the two significant enhancements to the public for the first time - the new Auxiliary Landing System (ALS) and the Mobile Mooring Mast (MMM).
“Both of these enhancements are great engineering innovations, and show the creativity and ingenuity of the team working on Airlander to great effect.” Steve McGlennan, CEO Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd.
Hangar Exit – Having received approval to fly once more from the CAA, Airlander emerged from Cardington Hangar 1 in darkness and took up residence on the airfield once again. The new MMM and extensive ground crew training paid off as the move was accomplished rapidly and easily.
ELITE & Fundraising – In April Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) joined London Stock Exchange Group’s international business support and capital raising ecosystem, ELITE. This is a full-service programme designed to help ambitious companies prepare and structure for the next stage of growth through the access to long term financing opportunities. It is a unique offering for scale-ups across Europe and beyond, providing a comprehensive training programme and extensive access to the business and financial community. The ELITE Club Deal private placement platform, launched earlier in 2017, will also help streamline the capital raising process for ELITE companies including Hybrid Air Vehicles.
May
Project LOCATE Completion – This specialist grant programme administered by the Aerospace Technology Institute began in May 2014 and was named LOCATE, standing for LOw CArbon aircraft with Lighter-than-air TEchnology. It has enabled crucial research and development that has firmly positioned the UK as the global leader in hybrid aircraft. HAV is the only company to have flown a full-sized hybrid aircraft in the world and front-runner in a pioneering field that has an independently-valued market of over $45 billion. This research grant helped to develop and enhance the Airlander 10 for its future commercial operations, and maintained the UK’s lead in this technology.
Flight Test Resumption – Within a month of emerging, Airlander returned to the skies once again with a spectacular three hour flight. Over the course of the summer a further three flights took place, providing huge amounts of valuable data to calibrate our knowledge of flight in this brand new type of aircraft.
“It was truly amazing to be back in the air. I loved every minute of the flight and the Airlander itself handled superbly. I am eager to get back into the cockpit and take her flying again,” said Chief Test Pilot, Dave Burns.
June
Airlander’s Flight Test Programme Continues - This was the Airlander 10’s fourth flight and second in 2017. Test Objectives revolved around further expanding the flight envelope and further testing of the flight characteristics. We reached 3700 feet altitude and 37 knots speed.
“It was great to be airborne again and we enjoyed a really successful test flight. We gathered a lot of data during the flight which helps us to optimise and define the performance of this magnificent aircraft.” – Dave Burns, Chief Test Pilot
July
Fifth Test Flight - On Tuesday 4 July, Airlander undertook its 5th Test flight. The flight included the proving of an alternative landing technique in preparation for when we commence heavier flight trials (this technique had been developed in the simulator based on data from previous test flights). The flight also included a level-flight acceleration and deceleration run.
August
Innovative Maintenance Techniques – While the pilots took a well-earned break in the summer, it was time for the Airlander’s team of technicians to put their extensive training to good use whilst maintaining the world’s largest aircraft. Hybrid Air Vehicles has developed deep understanding of the tools and techniques needed to maintain Airlander outside, without need for a hangar. Ascending onto the 26m tall hull to carry out inspections and maintenance is now routine, rapid, safe – and spectacular.
“Being up on the hull is a fantastic experience – I didn’t want to come down! It was a privilege to be part of the small team that performed the scheduled safety checks.” – Ivor Pope, Maintenance, Modification and Ground Operations Manager
November
Extended Test Envelope – Following validation of our flight test data analysis, EASA granted permission for Airlander to embark on its second phase of flying at the end of the summer. This allowed Airlander to fly further, faster and higher than before, with extra personnel on board, and to fly for the purpose of demonstrating, as well as testing the aircraft.
“We’re thrilled to have commenced the next round of testing; our world class team have really done well.” – Steve McGlennan, CEO
Late on Friday 17th November 2017, Hybrid Air Vehicles’ (HAV) highly trained test team sprang into action and Airlander was expertly guided into the sky by Chief Test Pilot Dave Burns on her sixth test flight, the first in the next planned stage of expanded flight tests.
Chief Test Pilot Dave Burns was joined by Andrew Barber, as Flight Test Engineer (Andrew’s full working title is Airworthiness and Flight Safety Engineer), whilst Allistair McDicken, Interim Head of Flight Test Organisation & Lead Flight Test Engineer, looked on from the ground.
Incident – On 18 November, there was a ground incident with the pre-production Airlander aircraft, which resulted in extensive damage to the hull and selected assemblies. The aircraft detached from its moorings in light winds for reasons that will be determined from our ongoing investigation. HAV have gathered a great deal of data from all of our flying and ground operations to date which is being used to inform our flight simulation, analysis and design tools ready for the next phase of Airlander development.
December
Move – Following a happy four years at Cardington Hangar 1, a decision was taken to move the business HQ to Technology House, Bedford, whilst a small production team has remained in Hangar 2 to work directly with the Airlander. The move went well and the team are settling into their smart new home.
General
STEM – Our team of three dedicated volunteer STEM Ambassadors have been hard at work this year and as a result we have engaged with thousands of young enthusiasts across the country through a series of workshops, lectures and events. Highlights include a project with Cambridge UTC, a series of high profile workshops in local schools, cadet and scout groups, presence during events at The Shuttleworth Collection, and heavy involvement with the Wiltshire Festival of Engineering at the behest of their local MP Michelle Donelan. We are proud of our ability to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers and our STEM programme is set to expand in 2018 so be sure to keep an eye on progress.
Capabilities for our Customers – Attendance at the Dubai Air Show, DSEI and a host of other events in 2017 has continued to demonstrate demand for the efficient, low-cost, low-noise capabilities of Airlander. Airlander is designed to fly for ultra-long endurance flights, with low fuel burn, and to be able to access remote areas for delivery of people, freight and humanitarian aid. We were pleased to announce that Henry Cookson Adventures is to trial Airlander in a luxury tourism capacity and to launch a Design Foundations product to specify the cabin and interior fit of a luxury passenger variant of Airlander. Hybrid Air Vehicles will build on these successes in 2018 in pursuit of our goal to change the future of aviation. Imagine the possibilities.