The sky is a land of innovation where sometimes old technologies come back to the forefront. This is the case of the airship, an aircraft whose invention dates back to the 19th century. Somewhat out of fashion today, these devices have nevertheless marked the history of aviation. Today, the largest of them left the factories barely 1 year ago. His name? The Scout 1 or in English, Pathfinder 1.
The largest airship in the world
In 2023, the company Lighter than airthe company behind the design of Pathfinder 1 has received the necessary authorizations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so that the Pathfinder 1 can carry out test flights.
Thus, during the year 2024, Lighter than air also known by the acronym LTA, increased the number of tests until October 24, 2024, when the largest active airship in the world successfully completed its first free flight outdoors.
And when we say that it is the largest airship in the world, we can also say that it is quite simply the largest flying device in the world, or at least the longest. Indeed, with its 124 meters in length, it is 47.75 meters longer than the longest airliner in the world: the Boeing 747-8.
20 meters wide, it can contain up to 28,000 cubic meters of helium, the gas used to propel it, much less dangerous than hydrogen which is very flammable.
Pathfinder 1 put at the service of humanitarian aid
This is the will displayed by Lighter than air for the Pathfinder 1. And if the airship should take this noble path, it is for a fairly simple reason: it does not need a runway or even an airport to land.
In freight mode, Pathfinder 1 will be able to take on board up to 5 tonnes of goods, enough to transport resources to disaster areas to help populations in need following a natural disaster or even war. But that's not all. Indeed, according to information reported by The New FactoryLTA engineers could also make the airship a communications relay in the event of the destruction of a radio tower.
Brief, Pathfinder 1which is the fruit of several years of work, will, once fully operational, be put to the service of the most needy.
Not the largest airship in history
If Pathfinder 1 is indeed the largest airship in the world currently, it is ridiculously small compared to the largest Zeppelin in History, but also the largest aircraft in short: the LZ 129 Hindenburg. The latter measured 247 meters long, 46.8 meters wide and could weigh 248 tonnes.
Chartered to a line linking Europe and the United States, the gigantic aircraft left the factories of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin in 1936 and was “a pride of Nazi Germany”. However, even if it remains the largest of its category in history, it will not have had time to serve very long.
Indeed, 14 months after its first flight in March 1936, it was destroyed following a fire in New Jersey in May 1937. Capable of containing up to 200,000 cubic meters of hydrogen, it was one of the examples marking a desire to switch to a less flammable gas to power airships.
Source: LTA / Usine Nouvelle
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
