Photo: HAV
It's official: Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) will kick off aircraft manufacturing in Doncaster, UK. The brand-new production site will be located at Carcroft Common, a well-known industrial estate a few miles to the north of Doncaster city center.
For a long time it seemed that the weird-shaped, totally bizarre green aircraft nicknamed "The Flying Bum" would be just one more failed aviation concept that excited people's imagination only to leave them disappointed. Luckily, that's no longer the case. The Airlander 10 is fully prepared to enter large-scale production, followed by entry into commercial service.
Last year, HAV was on a roll, and this year, it is gearing up to be historical. The latest milestone came in the form of a confirmed location for the company's brand-new manufacturing facility that will also be used for testing and certification-related operations.
The future center is set to take advantage of the 50-hectare (123.5 acres) Carcroft Common site near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, UK. All we know for now is that it will boast the latest aerospace production equipment in line with the innovative technology of the Airlander 10, including the use of composite materials for its airframe. Another important detail is that the estimated production capacity will initially aim for 24 units per year.
One major advantage of the area is that HAV will receive expert support from the nearby Doncaster UTC and the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Center. Once completed and fully operational, this center is set to create more than 1,000 so-called "green" jobs in the area. As it often happens, this major project couldn't have come to life without support and funding from local authorities. The goal is to ultimately turn the entire South Yorkshire into an aerospace innovation hub.
With this recent milestone, HAV is on track to reach its destination, with the first Airlander 10 scheduled to enter commercial service three years from now. Air Nostrum Group, HAV's launch airline customer, has recently doubled its initial pre-order, confirming that the Airlander 10 project is finally ready to take to the sky.
More than that, HAV claims to have secured more than £1 billion from pre-orders so far. The futuristic green aircraft is set to explore a wide range of operations, including a bold take on Arctic tourism. Plus, it might not even be limited to the civilian market – aviation technology giant BAE Systems is looking into the possibilities of adapting Airlander's capabilities for military missions.
The Airlander 10 is a gigantic, hybrid aircraft designed to carry up to 100 passengers or 11 tons of cargo. Once production is officially in place, HAV will continue to explore the potential of an even more impressive version, the Airlander 50, with double capacity and a whopping 2,200 km (1,367 miles) range at maximum payload.
Last year, HAV was on a roll, and this year, it is gearing up to be historical. The latest milestone came in the form of a confirmed location for the company's brand-new manufacturing facility that will also be used for testing and certification-related operations.
The future center is set to take advantage of the 50-hectare (123.5 acres) Carcroft Common site near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, UK. All we know for now is that it will boast the latest aerospace production equipment in line with the innovative technology of the Airlander 10, including the use of composite materials for its airframe. Another important detail is that the estimated production capacity will initially aim for 24 units per year.
One major advantage of the area is that HAV will receive expert support from the nearby Doncaster UTC and the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Center. Once completed and fully operational, this center is set to create more than 1,000 so-called "green" jobs in the area. As it often happens, this major project couldn't have come to life without support and funding from local authorities. The goal is to ultimately turn the entire South Yorkshire into an aerospace innovation hub.
With this recent milestone, HAV is on track to reach its destination, with the first Airlander 10 scheduled to enter commercial service three years from now. Air Nostrum Group, HAV's launch airline customer, has recently doubled its initial pre-order, confirming that the Airlander 10 project is finally ready to take to the sky.
More than that, HAV claims to have secured more than £1 billion from pre-orders so far. The futuristic green aircraft is set to explore a wide range of operations, including a bold take on Arctic tourism. Plus, it might not even be limited to the civilian market – aviation technology giant BAE Systems is looking into the possibilities of adapting Airlander's capabilities for military missions.
The Airlander 10 is a gigantic, hybrid aircraft designed to carry up to 100 passengers or 11 tons of cargo. Once production is officially in place, HAV will continue to explore the potential of an even more impressive version, the Airlander 50, with double capacity and a whopping 2,200 km (1,367 miles) range at maximum payload.
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