| Pathfinder 1 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | proof of concept rigid airship |
| Manufacturer | LTA Research |
| History | |
| First flight | 24 October 2024 |
Pathfinder 1 is a modern rigid airship, designed by LTA Research, with assistance by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin. It is the first massive rigid airship of its kind to fly since the Graf Zeppelin II in August 1939, and the largest aircraft in the world. In development since 2017, it first flew on 24 October 2024.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin originally founded LTA research in 2013, likely due to his interest in the Zeppelin NT, which began tourism flights from Moffett Field in Sunnyvale, California the year previously. [1] [2]
After research at Goodyear Airdock in Akron, Ohio, where a 15m proof of concept airship was built, work began on Pathfinder 1 at Moffett Field in 2017. The airship was the first massive rigid airship to be built since the 1930s, and new design features such as angled control surfaces to avoid the tail fin being dragged along the ground during mooring. Staggered engines for vibration and drag reduction. As well as helium, instead of the hydrogen used in German built airships of the 1930s. [1] [2]
Pathfinder 1's outer skin is made of Tedlar, with the nose cone made of titanium, kevlar, aluminium and carbon fibre. Four angled tail fins are fitted to the airship, with the nose cone and tail fins manufactured by Zeppelin. Propulsion is provided by 12 Emrax 268 electric motors, that can provide 210 kW of power. They drive a three bladed propeller, eight are positioned longitudinally, four in a tail formation. Power is provided by two diesel generators and 24 batteries, in a diesel-electric hybrid system. Its large size, being 121.9m in length, makes it the largest aircraft in the world. [1] [2]
Pathfinder 1 is designed as a proof of concept, along with its sister ship Pathfinder 3, which is planned to be 1/3 larger. There is no Pathfinder 2. [1] [2]
Pathfinder 1 received a special airworthiness certificate in September 2023, allowing it to fly at altitudes up to 460m, within the Moffett Field and Palo Alto Airport airspaces. [2] The first outdoor tests of the airship were in November 2023, with tethered testing outside the airship's hanger at Moffett field. On 24 October 2024, the first untethered flight was made, being announced by LTA founder Brin. [1] With plans for 25 low level test flights around the San Francisco Bay Area. [3] An extension of its allowable flight envelope in 2025, resulted in Pathfinder 1 extending its flights to include greater areas around San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge. [4]
Data fromModern Airships [2]
General characteristics
Performance