Lockheed Martin-spinoff AT2 Aerospace looks to connect remote points via hybrid airship
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - It's a bird; it's a plane!! It's a ... cloud?! No, it's a massive, once-military-grade hover-capable blimp designed to connect the most remote parts of the world with established trading hubs. The AT2 Aerospace Z1 airship aims to use a combination of hydrogen-powered thrust vectoring and helium buoyancy to efficiently carry people and goods over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) per trip. Not only will it reach the world's most remote destinations, it'll use proprietary Air Cushion landing gear to touch down virtually anywhere, including on water, C.C. Weiss writes for New Atlas. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
21 March 2025 - The AT2 airship combines lighter-than-air (LTA) lift with aerodynamic forces for enhanced stability and maneuverability. Its hull shape and control surfaces generate lift like an airplane wing. Vectored thrust engines, typically electric or hybrid-electric, are mounted on swiveling nacelles, enabling precise control, hovering, and VTOL capability.
A fly-by-wire system with automated stabilization adjusts thrust, control surfaces, and gas pressure for optimal performance. Ballonet air chambers regulate buoyancy by inflating or deflating, allowing altitude adjustments without helium loss.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
