The floating helium-filled aircraft is anchored to the ground with cables water-filled tanks provide the ballast. The ballast exchange procedure is the method of ensuring smooth loading and unloading. Glenn Beach, vice president of the US subsidiary CargoLifter Inc, said that the transport balloon behaved exactly as the computer simulations had indicated. For this key area of ‘Lighter-than-Air’ technology, we’ve created all necessary conditions such as assembly facilities, helium logistics and gas management as well as refining our internationally one-of-a-kind expertise.’ On 5 October the CL 75 AirCrane balloon lifted a crane weighing 24t to a height of 7m to prove for the first time the ballast exchange procedure in practice. ‘In our case, that means, before all else, the airship envelope. ‘First of all, external partner companies will manufacture many components of the CL 160, while engineers in Brand prepare production equipment and assembly facilities, as well as carry out the necessary tests for production.’ In the production of the CL 160, all parties will concentrate on their core strengths.
‘When it comes to the beginning of production, you shouldn’t imagine this means that there will be a finished airship in the hangar in a few weeks,’ he said. ‘Innovation requires courage and broad support – which we’ve demonstrated to our employees and shareholders over the last few years.’ The start of production in Brand means the the concept begins to become a reality, von Gablenz says. ‘Here in Brand, over the last three years, we’ve built up a complete manufacturing location including all necessary infrastructure for our ‘Lighter-than-Air’ transportation aircraft as well as put together a team with world class know-how,’ said Dr Carl von Gablenz, chairman of the board of CargoLifter AG.
#CARGOLIFTER CL75 AIRCRANE SERIAL#
The developers have also ‘proven’ the ballast exchange procedure on which the loading and unloading procedure depends.Įngineers working at the CargoLifter hangar in Briesen-Brand, Germany are working with specialist teams from suppliers and development partners to develop and manufacture both the 260m-long CargoLifter CL 160 transportation airship and the CL 75 AirCrane transportation balloon (61m diameter), paving the wave for serial production. Production of the Cargolifter ‘flying crane’ officially began on 27 September, but it will be two years before the first unit is completed.
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