Aircraft
Rival Hybrid Airship Programs Gain Momentum
Lockheed Martin announced a letter of intent to purchase, while HAV is preparing to fly the Airlander 10
British start-up Streamline Aviation is negotiating the purchase of hybrid airships from Lockheed Martin.
British start-up Streamline Aviation is negotiating the purchase of hybrid airships from Lockheed Martin.

British start-up company Straightline Aviation has signed a letter of intent for up to 12 Lockheed Martin Hybrid Airships “with a potential value of up to $480 million,” according to Lockheed Martin. Straightline is working to finalize a purchase agreement with Hybrid Enterprises, the company that LM appointed last year as its official reseller. The announcement comes just as Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) of the UK is preparing to fly the rival Airlander 10 at Cardington in the UK. Both HAV and Lockheed Martin say that the long-mooted potential of these vehicles is about to be realized, as an alternative, environmentally friendly means of transporting cargo and passengers to remote destinations.