Silicon Valley is buzzing with anticipation as LTA Research unveils its prototype electric airship, Pathfinder 1. This innovative airship, funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, aims to revolutionize climate-friendly air travel and enhance humanitarian efforts. With its striking snow-white steampunk design visible from the busy 101 highway, Pathfinder 1 utilizes advanced drone technology such as fly-by-wire controls, electric motors, and lidar sensing. It surpasses the size of three Boeing 737s and has the potential to transport tons of cargo over long distances.
CEO Alan Weston expressed his excitement about the unveiling, stating that it has been a decade of hard work and dedication. The next step for Pathfinder 1 involves a series of ambitious flight tests before it is relocated to Akron, Ohio, where LTA Research plans to build an even larger airship, Pathfinder 3. The ultimate goal is to create a family of airships for disaster relief in areas where infrastructure like roads and airports are damaged, as well as for zero-carbon passenger transportation.
For the next year, Pathfinder 1 will serve as a prominent landmark in Silicon Valley as it undergoes rigorous testing near major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon. Weston emphasized the potential for future airship production, stating that the groundbreaking technologies and innovations demonstrated by Pathfinder 1 could pave the way for a new industry.
Pathfinder 1 is a behemoth in the world of aviation, measuring 124.5 meters long. It surpasses the size of current airships like Goodyear’s and even the colossal Stratolaunch plane designed for launching orbital rockets. The last aircraft of this magnitude to take flight was the Hindenburg airship in the 1930s. Despite its similar appearance to the ill-fated Hindenburg, Pathfinder 1 was built from scratch using new materials and technologies. It utilizes stable helium instead of flammable hydrogen as a lifting gas and is constructed with a rigid framework of carbon-fiber reinforced tubes and titanium hubs. The airship’s 13 giant rip-stop nylon cells filled with helium are monitored by lidar laser systems and protected by a lightweight synthetic Tedlar skin.
The Pathfinder 1 is equipped with twelve electric motors powered by diesel generators and batteries, enabling vertical take-off and landing. It can reach speeds of up to 65 knots (75 mph), although initial flights will be at lower speeds.
In the early morning hours, Pathfinder 1 silently emerged from its World War II-era hangar at NASA’s Moffett Field, guided by ropes held by the company’s engineers, technicians, and ground crew. The flight test program begins with the airship’s response to the warming effect of Californian sunshine, allowing engineers to assess the behavior of its helium-filled cells and weather-resistant polymer skin.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a special airworthiness certificate for Pathfinder 1 in September, granting permission for test flights in and around Moffett Field, Palo Alto airport, and the southern part of the San Francisco Bay. Initial tests will involve tethered flights just a few feet off the ground, followed by maneuvers around Moffett Field and subsequent flights over the Bay.
Weston emphasized safety as a top priority, acknowledging the need for rigorous certification processes. The first 50 flights of Pathfinder 1 will be limited to 1,500 feet and will require two pilots instead of the originally designed single pilot. Collaboration with the FAA ensures a safe and sensible path to full certification.
While airships may not replace traditional aircraft, Weston envisions their role in reducing the carbon footprint of air travel. They could also play a crucial role in responding to natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes. Sergey Brin, who also funds the nonprofit organization Global Support and Development (GSD), aims to provide humanitarian aid within the first 24 to 96 hours of a disaster. With Pathfinder 1 capable of carrying four tons of cargo, future airships will require larger capacities and zero-carbon technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells.
Weston is excited about the progress made so far and believes in the potential for further expansion. The FAA’s experimental certificate for Pathfinder 1 expires in September 2024, leaving ample time to validate the new technologies and demonstrate their safety and reliability to the FAA and potential customers.
Overall, Pathfinder 1 represents a significant step forward in the advancement of airship technology, with potential applications in both commercial and humanitarian sectors. As the dawn breaks over Silicon Valley, the world eagerly awaits the next chapter in the era of climate-friendly air travel.
