airlander
PR:
- Hybrid Air Vehicles USA has been established, bringing HAV’s Airlander to the US to unlock new market opportunities.
- This strategic move supports growing interest in Airlander from the US government and industry customers, including the Department of Defense.
- Hybrid Air Vehicles USA will be led by John Schumacher, a distinguished leader in aerospace, including 16 years at NASA.
Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV) has today announced an expansion of its global footprint with the establishment of HAV USA, a new subsidiary of HAV incorporated in the United States, to meet growing international demand. This move positions HAV closer to its customers in the region, in particular the US Government, aerospace primes, as well as commercial passenger and cargo transporters. This is a key step as we expand Airlander opportunities globally.
Tom Grundy, CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, said: “Establishing a presence in the United States marks a new chapter in our international journey. We’re excited to bring our vision to new audiences and forge deeper partnerships across borders. I am pleased to have John Schumacher on board to lead this new expansion and look forward to realizing the tremendous opportunities present in the US and the Americas.”
John Schumacher, President of Hybrid Air Vehicles USA, added, “It’s a great honor to lead HAV USA. Airlander brings to the United States an aircraft whose roots and future are British and American – it embodies an unsurpassed combination of trans-Atlantic aerospace innovation. Airlander will provide capabilities vital to US national security and commerce. Exciting days lie ahead!”
This strategic move supports growing interest from the US national security, aerospace, and disaster response sectors in Airlander. HAV USA reflects the increasing global relevance of our technology in the Americas and allows us to expand cooperative activities with US companies and the US Government. HAV USA will be led by its President, John Schumacher. John is a distinguished leader in government, aerospace and international organizations. He served as a Naval Officer, led NASA’s work on a new Vision for U.S. Space Exploration, strengthened U.S. missile and space capabilities, and advanced humankind’s reach into Space. John was a key leader in reinvigorating Aerojet Rocketdyne, America’s premier rocket propulsion manufacturer; and serves as President of the International Academy of Astronautics.
HAV is in the final stages of planning for the production of Airlander 10, its first commercial aircraft. Airlander 10 is a versatile aircraft with a modular payload design that is capable of transporting over 100 passengers, a ten-ton payload of freight, or alternatively providing a highly instrumented cabin for persistent surveillance, reconnaissance and communications for national security, commercial, or disaster response. Airlander’s ability to fly at different altitudes for up to five days and modular payload design make it a versatile, multi-use platform ideal for government and commercial users.The Airlander design scales easily into larger variants that could carry up to 200 tons over long distances. Airlander, particularly larger variants, is well suited to providing logistics to remote or disaster response areas globally because of the aircraft’s unique ability to land on any relatively flat surface with no need for prepared runways.
Notes:
- HAV is well-positioned—with orders, certification momentum, and green-tech partnerships—but faces significant funding hurdles in scaling production and market adoption. If it secures capital and completes certification, the Airlander could pioneer a novel segment in low-emission, multi-role air mobility.
- HAV secured a 50-hectare factory site in Doncaster to produce up to 24 Airlander 10 units per year, creating ~1,200 skilled jobs?.
- Over £1?billion in pre-orders, notably from Air Nostrum and other customers in logistics and military applications.
- The Airlander promises up to 90% fewer emissions using hybrid diesel/electric propulsion, with plans to transition to hydrogen fuel cells by 2030.
- It has cleared key hurdles with a CAA Production Organisation Approval and is advancing EASA type certification, positioning entry into service around 2028.
- HAV has partnered with Dassault Systèmes and TriMech to integrate 3DEXPERIENCE virtual-twin technology, enhancing design, manufacturing, and readiness for hydrogen use.
- HAV needs to raise an additional £300 million to reach break-even and commence full factory operations.
- Certification delays and production scaling have historically been slow for airships, as the 2016–17 prototype setbacks highlight these challenges.
- Skeptics doubt whether the market is large enough to justify mass deployment, and helium supply constraints may limit operations.
- Focusing on the Pentagon for business is a risky proposition, especially without a US-based partner that is well-known to the Pentagon.
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