Julie Kalista
Online Editor
It is designed and built on the basis of a new concept in flight, a hybrid blimp/aircraft. The idea grew out of the belief that there is a more comfortable way to fly than simply applying luxury to an existing airframe.
The aircraft can land and takeoff vertically, like a blimp, providing access to remote areas anywhere in the world. Its maximum speed is 138 mph (222 kmh), with cruise speeds to 115 mph (185 kmh), and maximum operating altitudes to 12,000 ft (3,657 m). It is 210 ft (64 m) long, 105 ft (32 m) wide, and 52.5 ft (16 m) tall.
The engine, Teledyne Continental IO-240-B, is air-cooled, fuel-injected with down-draft induction, and has four horizontal opposed overhead valve cylinders. It has a TBO (time between overhaul) period of 2,000 hours.
Aeros has developed their own specifications for the fabric material for the envelope (which encloses the helium gas that provides the lift), with a patent pending. The fabric is weldable on both surfaces and has self-healing properties. It is multi-layered woven nylon that is impregnated with polyurethane, with two helium protective barriers and double UV coatings.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the interior of the aircraft, with 5,000 square feet of floor space, becomes a high-tech airborne business center. It has a computerized office with videoconferencing capability, communications, and a conference room that, while on the ground, accommodates up to one hundred people. The craft also has a transformable interior and a personal state room.
Worldwide Aeros Corp. confirmed participation at the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) 60th Annual Meeting & Convention taking place in September. During the event Aeros will make an official announcement for the launch of the Aeroscraft ML866 program. According to one company representative, "Aeroscraft ML866 offers a new level of service and provides maximum comfort for business travel needs of top executives."
More Information:Worldwide Aeros Corp.