Abstract: A WIG (wing in ground effect) vessel includes a hull with wings attached. The WIG vessel includes means for propulsion as well as altitude and directional control. The lift of the wings in ground effect is augmented by partial aerostatic lift, achieved through interior gas holding envelopes containing a lighter-than-air gas. The wings have a high mean chord length, for example fourteen meters or more, allowing the vessel to fly in ground effect above water at an altitude where waves are of minimal concern. The vessel has a low wing loading, below 1.5 kg/m2, and the wings are of uniform thickness and have an aspect ratio of less than 1. The conical fore end of the hull forces air below the surface of the wings for ground effect. Weight transfer is used to alter the pitch of the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to airships and more precisely, to a propulsion and steering system for use with an airship. The airship possesses a hull having an outer envelope. The propulsion and steering system includes at least one propulsion and steering assembly. The assembly includes an engine for producing thrust to propel the airship and a support frame for carrying the engine. The engine is fixed to the support frame. A support frame movement mechanism is operable to move the support frame relative to the hull to thereby allow the engine and the thrust produced by the engine to be oriented in a desired direction. The assembly further includes spacer means connected to the support frame movement mechanism for spacing the support frame and the engine from the outer envelope of the hull so as to create sufficient clearance therebetween when the support frame is moved. Also provided is a mounting framework for attaching the spacer means to the hull.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of buoyant aircraft and operation thereof, in particular, airships for lifting heavy and/or oversized loads. According to the present invention it would be advantageous to provide a airship that can lift heavy and/or oversized loads of several tons or more. The present invention is directed to an airship that will be able to load and unload heavy or oversized loads or payloads. The purpose of the airship of the present invention is to transport heavy and/or oversized payloads or act as a flying crane that requires a minimal infrastructure on the ground. The airship of the present invention uses the leverage of positive buoyancy to lift and transport payloads; using a fraction of the energy that a Vertical take off and landing aircraft (“VTOL”), such as a helicopter, would for the same payload weight. The airship of the present invention may also be able to lift far heavier loads than any existing helicopter.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of buoyant aircraft and operation thereof, in particular, airships with improved stability. The present invention is directed to non-rigid, non-spherical airships having an envelop contained within the airship and at least one further envelop contained therein for holding a volume of lifting gas.

Abstract: An airship has a generally spherical shape and has an internal envelope for containing a lifting gas such as Helium or Hydrogen. The airship has a propulsion and control system that permits it to be flown to a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that location for a period of time. In one embodiment the airship may achieve neutral buoyancy when the internal envelope is as little as 7% full of lifting gas, and may have a service ceiling of about 60,000 ft. The airship has an equipment module that can include either communications equipment, or monitoring equipment, or both. The airship can be remotely controlled from a ground station. The airship has a solar cell array and electric motors of the propulsion and control system are driven by power obtained from the array. The airship also has an auxiliary power unit that can be used to drive the electric motors.