Heavy-Lift Blimp Could Haul Cargo To Remote Areas

A Canadian company trying to promote a heavy-lift blimp as an alternative for shipping large cargo to remote areas of the world received a major shot in the arm recently.

American planemaker Boeing said this week it has teamed with Calgary-based SkyHook International to develop a blimp able to carry a 40 ton load 200 miles without refueling, reports Reuters.

The Jess Heavy Lifter, or JHL-40, is named after SkyHook president and CEO Pete Jess, who holds a patent on the combination airship/helicopter technology. The JHL-40 uses helium for lift, and four large, movable rotors for maneuvering... a combination that gives the hybrid airship over twice the lifting power of the Mi-26, the world's largest helicopter.

"SkyHook secured the patent for this neutrally buoyant aircraft and approached Boeing with the opportunity to develop and build the system," said Pat Donnelly, director of Advanced Rotorcraft Systems for Boeing. "We conducted a feasibility study and decided this opportunity is a perfect fit for Advanced Systems' technical capabilities."

Both companies tout the efficiency and environmental friendliness of such an aircraft, noting blimps capable of hauling loads normally reserved for large trucks or rail eliminate the need for roads or rail lines to remote locations, like northern Canada's oil sands.

"Companies have suggested this new technology will enable them to modify their current operational strategy and begin working much sooner on projects that were thought to be 15 to 20 years away," Jess said.

FMI: www.skyhookhlv.com, www.boeing.com