Alaska could be the home of the world's first modern cargo airship once the aircraft rolls off Lockheed Martin's assembly line in 2019, officials said last week. The deal involves an Anchorage logistics company that hopes to use the helium-filled airship to haul freight and workers to remote sites, officials said last week. The owner of PRL Logistics said the blimp-like airship will safely support remote Alaska resource projects, including some that might not be developed without the airship, while also giving emergency personnel another tool to rescue people in hard-to-reach areas. "We hope this brings more work to Alaska," said Ron Hyde, a former village safety officer from Goodnews Bay who founded PRL Logistics in 2002. PRL has become a partner with Straightline Aviation, a British company consisting of executives who once ran the Virgin Airship and Balloon Co., formerly owned by billionaire Richard Branson. I keep hoping to see these......
Better have very good Pilots, with extremely good Wx & Wind Data, in Real Time.... otherwise they could find themselves in Russia, very Quickly....
Goodnews Bay Goodnews Bay is a city in Bethel Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 243. Not holding my breath
And the WIND is from Where ? earth turns what way ? Say EAST they will travel !! Just have to make sure no ice storms , They can anchor hold , Hope the material is good to -40 f/c .. Sloth
Goodnews Bay is out on the coast, And serviced out of Dillingjam, Ak... Was the biggest village near the Old Platinum Mine at Platinum, Alaska.... I spent time in both those places... The mine was very interesting, as it was still operating, when I was there... The youngest Fellow at the mine was 72 Years old... and they had their own private two lane Bowling Alley, and Movie Theater... This was long before Cell or SAT Phones, and back when HF Comms was all there was in the bush of Alaska....
Actually, I think it is a very good idea. They can move a tremendous amount of tonnage for very little cost. It will be interesting to see if it can compete with the semi-trucks (and ships and barges) that keep Alaska supplied.
There are very few Highways, in Bush Alaska, and if you are Off the Highway, by even a few miles, you are off the Road System, in most places.... Ships can only deliver to Coastal Villages, and Barges are the same, with the exception of the Kuskuim and Yukon Rivers have transports.... These would be great for moving goods from the Major Commercial Hubs, like Dillingham, Bethel, Naknek, McGrath, SquareBanks, Nome, and Kotzebou, out into the bush.... but like I noted earlier, the Pilot had better be very GOOD, and watch the Wx and Winds very Closely, or he could end up in Russia, or Canada, in a hurry.... These things are NOT fast, and would be a B***CH to operate in a 50 Knot Blow, with No Place, to anchor it down, and Hide......
@BTPost ".... These would be great for moving goods from the Major Commercial Hubs, like Dillingham, Bethel, Naknek, McGrath, SquareBanks, Nome, and Kotzebou, out into the bush.. watch the Wx and Winds very Closely...would be a B***CH to operate in a 50 Knot Blow, with No Place, to anchor it down, and Hide......" My thoughts exactly. I imagine they could rise above the weather in some cases and wait it out and of course they have access to current satellite weather data. For years, I have wondered why they haven't been used. I really think that they will work out well in specific cases. It will be interesting to watch and see what happens.