This “Ultra-Safe” Aircraft Is a Cross Between a Plane and a Blimp

A Blimp in Time

Airships have had a major public relations problem since the infamous Hindenburg explosion that rocked the world back in 1937.

But it’s finally time to put any safety concerns aside for lighter-than-air transportation. The blimp is finally getting a 21st century overhaul: Seattle-based startup Egan Airships is working on what looks like an ingenious idea for taking modern day aerospace engineering technology — and strapping it to a reinforced helium-filled pouch.

The “Plimp”

The end product: the “Plimp,” or “plummet proof blimp.”

The Plimp is essentially a cross between a range of different aircraft: it has two stubby wings like an airplane, electric propellers for upward and forward thrust like a drone — and of course a massive body filled with helium to stay airborne. And it’s capable of vertical take off and landing, or VTOL, unlike conventional airplanes.

For now, we’ll have to content ourselves with a small prototype — first shown off in 2017 — that can only carry a payload of 5 pounds, for twenty miles, at 30 mph (48 km/h).

Model J

But Egan wants to scale things up for the Plimp’s next iteration: the Model J. The Model J has far more impressive specs: it can carry up to 10 people for up to five hours, with a range of over 300 miles. And with a reduced payload, it can travel an impressive 1300 miles.

The potential uses for the Model J are endless, from homeland security recon missions to surveying agriculture and crop loss prevention. Or just some plain old advertising, Goodyear-style.

Egan also had some serious talent that came up with the Model J’s design: renowned aerospace engineer Daniel Ramyer, who worked on the famous Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.