Well-forgotten old: Spaniards replace airliners with airships

Airships dominated the sky in the 20-30s of the last century. They did not show themselves from the best side, as they were unhurried and explosive. But times are changing, and new technologies have helped these giants to return to the sky again. In some places, airliners are even replaced by passenger airships. The Spanish airline Air Nostrum has ordered 10 airships for 100 passenger seats each from the British manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles. They are planned to replace some aircraft on domestic routes.

Replenishment of the aircraft fleet in Air Nostrum is expected by 2026. The manufacture of modern airships, as it turned out, is not a quick and complicated matter. But for the sake of the advantages that these devices offer, you can wait. The manufacturer's specialists claim that their airships cause 90 percent less damage to the environment than airplanes.

The modern airship from Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) was designed in 2016. So far, these aircraft exist only in experimental versions and are undergoing comprehensive tests. The British company planned to introduce the first serial device only in 2025. Despite this, there are already several large orders from customers who are ready to wait a few more years.

The airships created in the UK are filled with helium and are driven by electric motors. Unlike hydrogen, which was previously used in air vehicles, this inert gas is not explosive. The airship can take on board and comfortably accommodate up to 100 passengers. The range of flights at the same time reaches 300-400 km.

The speed of the airships is low — only 129 km / h. But during the flight you can enjoy the beautiful views from the portholes. It is also worth noting that these aircraft will appeal to those who are seasick in airplanes and who are simply afraid to fly. But the main thing is that airships do not need long runways. They can land and take off even at small provincial airfields.

The main office of HAV says that airships are not only interested in Spaniards. After 2025, it is planned to launch flights in different parts of the world. Liverpool — Belfast (270 km), Seattle — Vancouver (200 km) and Oslo — Stockholm (420 km) flights, according to the company's analysts, will be incredibly popular.