While the whole world is following technologies focusing on land vehicles such as electric cars, pickups, buses and trucks, some people have not been idle in Silicon Valley. An electric plane large enough to be a candidate for the world’s largest airplane award started its first tests in Silicon Valley today. Here is the LTA Research Pathfinder 1 airship…
Electric giant airship: LTA Research Pathfinder 1
Today, LTA Research, a company located in Silicon Valley and dealing with environmentally friendly aviation solutions, has started flight tests for the airship model Pathfinder 1, which can be considered an electric plane. This completely electric airship was noticed even by car drivers on the 101st highway with its white color. It is necessary to give a simpler example to understand the size of Pathfinder 1, which resembles a giant snowball.
This airship in question is the size of three Boeing 737s in total. The airship with its giant balloon would look really scary if it were black instead of a plain color like white. We can say that the airship in question is also considered a candidate for the world’s largest aircraft award. LTA Research officials describe Pathfinder 1 as “10 years of blood, sweat and tears”.
The tests that must be successful for the airship that will lead to the electric aircraft project that has been worked on for many years have started today. The airship, which will perform functions such as acceleration and steering with a total of 12 electric motors in the balloon section, also has a LiDAR sensor that measures the volume of helium in the gas cells. In this way, pilots will be able to use the airship comfortably without making serious calculations about direction and altitude.
However, Pathfinder 1 is actually a prototype for the larger airships that will follow. LTA Research attributes this airship to a foundational role for many models that will follow. The brand quickly started the first generation tests for its model called Pathfinder 3, which will be larger than the 1st generation. If the electric airship idea is successful, the aviation era will begin with zero carbon emissions.
So, what do you think about the Pathfinder 1 airship, which will be a pioneer in the electric aircraft project? Don’t forget to express your opinions in the comments section…
