NAVY WILL TEST FUEL-EFFICIENT AIRSHIP FOR MARINE PATROL

I look for airships to make a comeback both in utility roles and
domestic passenger operations. They are ideal candidates for electric
motor propulsion, because the motors don't have to support the weight
of the machine as well as provide motive power as is necessary with
airplanes.




https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/586/213452/
Airship to Patrol South Florida Straits

KEY WEST, Fla. -- The Navy, in coordination with the Coast Guard and
the recently created National Office of Global Maritime Situational
Awareness (OGMSA), will conduct a six-week-long series of evaluations
off Florida's southern coast of an airship in a maritime surveillance
role this summer. Several recent studies have indicated the utility
and potential cost effectiveness of airships in this role. This
demonstration is an effort to examine the subject further.

The lighter than air platform will fly patrols for up to 8 hours to
test both the systems and crew mission loading and fatigue factors.
The airship, a Skyship 600, which is owned and operated by Airship
Management Services, Inc. (AMS) and leased by NAVAIR PMA-262, Patuxent
River, MD, was configured for this mission with the assistance of the
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC. It is manned by a
three-person crew, including two pilots and a crew member. They will
receive operational, technical and administrative support from both
Coast Guard Sector Key West and Naval Air Station Key West .

AIRSHIP FACTS

The Skyship 600 is a 6,797 cubic meter (240,000 cubic feet),
helium-filled airship. Over the years it has proven itself an
excellent platform for a variety of missions. Capable of persistent
surveillance, communications relay, data-gathering, scientific
monitoring and sampling, or test and evaluation of new equipment, the
long endurance of the airship allows it to remain on station far
longer than helicopters while providing a solid, vibration free
platform for equipment.

The airship is also a very cost-effective airborne platform for sensor
applications. The ability to deploy to an area of operation, lift a
sizeable payload and provide a stable platform for sensors with long
endurance is unique among most airborne vehicles.

Boasting a large cabin, which incorporates a lavatory, the Skyship 600
can carry a wide range of equipment and its operators (or up to 12
passengers). It has been demonstrated that the ship can provide
endurance for up to 52 hours without refueling. Furthermore, the use
of safe, non-flammable helium keeps fuel consumption very low and the
airship environmentally friendly. The Skyship 600 is also one of the
safest forms of transport in the world.

The Skyship 600 is operated by a crew of 20 personnel consisting of
two pilots, three engineers and 15 ground crew who bear responsibility
for all aspects of the safe and effective operation of the airship.
While on the ground, the ship's systems are monitored by a watchman
located at the airship at all times.

The joint airship experiment for maritime surveillance between the
Navy and Coast Guard reflects the cooperative strategy for 21st
century seapower between the sea services. The Chief of Naval
Operations and the Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast
Guard unveiled the cooperative maritime strategy at the International
Seapower Symposium in Newport, R.I. on Oct 17, 2007. The strategy
will bring the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard even closer together
in working to protect and sustain the United States.




NAVY WILL TEST FUEL-EFFICIENT AIRSHIP FOR MARINE PATROL
(http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#198181)
A Skyship 600 (http://skycruisergroup.com/Startoura.htm) will be
tested by the U.S. Navy this summer off the coast of Florida to
evaluate its performance as a surveillance aircraft. ...
The ship's cabin, with room for up to 12 passengers,
has plenty of space for surveillance equipment, and vibration is
minimal. It can fly for up to 52 hours without refueling, and
consumes only about 10 to 12 gallons of fuel per hour.