These aerial facilities are low-captured floating lenticular aerostats, designed by LTA-Solutions for LSL with multiple line restraints allowing them to rise under control from the ground, securely held at heights of around 20m. They enable light-show displays or video projections as overhead screens at events and/or as shelters.
They were a first-stage exercise before upgrade to fly as tethered aerostats let up by a single line to say 120m, enabling joy rides with outlook afar, recovered to ground level when not in use for safe keeping. The aerostats had two principal chambers:
- An outer torus tube (like a bicycle wheel inner tube) that was pressure stabilised as a stiff chassis holding aerostat form.
- An inner main compartment bounded by upper and lower dishes affixed at tangential positions to the torus.
Although fitted with a ballonet for air to stabilise form, the main chamber was only low pressurised, allowing its bottom dish to freely flex up or down – permitting contained LTA-gas volume changes.
As non-rigid fabric structures, the aerostats were partially LTA-gas filled and then air was used to complete the inflation process (depending on lift needed to carry things) and to pressurise the torus, enabling them to maintain form for atmosphere displacement purposes, thus developing excess buoyancy lifting their weight. Excess buoyancy kept them aloft, imparting sufficient tension into their multiple restraint lines, preventing them from slackening against wind and other loads.
Projection onto the aerostat’s lower surface (an essentially large flat disk area) was best undertaken with systems on the ground. However, the projectors also could be carried in an underslung unit by the aerostat, involving additional expense for parts and the safety aspects to be covered. The aerostat also could carry lighting and other systems (e.g., cameras).
Arrangements with specialist suppliers were made for the aerostats/fabric facilities and ground systems production if there was demand (still possible). LSL also cooperated with specialists for the light-show projection facilities – not part of the basic captured aerostat package.
The low captured aerostats also could be used as big parasols or rain shelters (i.e., large floating roofs) with a stage below. Fitted with a skirt (an extra facility) that the aerostat raised and supported, they then could be used as marquees for many other purposes. The aerostat was provided with attachment points for skirts, attached routinely for storm protection when held at ground level (minimising gust effects). Advertising banners for daylight hours also could be affixed this way. Later plans to integrate solar panels on the aerostat’s upper surface for power also were drawn up.
The designs stem from mooring arrangements for similar lenticular aerostats intended for omni-directional airships and the need to develop them in an assured way through field tests before attempting free flight. The overhead captured aerostats thus were arranged as useful products for just ground use, perhaps later upgraded for dirigible flight purposes.
Designs prepared included: Mk 1 (LS-L18T) and Mk 2 (LS-L15T-V1), as below:
- Mk 1 is Ø18 m. It was produced as a test prototype called Vikki – see above photographs.
- Mk 2 is smaller (Ø15 m) to minimise cost. Its design incorporates lessons learned from Vikki. For further information, see its leaflet.
Vikki, as shown above, was designed 2009 followed by a programme of production, inflation, assembly, training, tests/operation and qualification 2010. Its design therefore is known to work. However, production versions needed reduced costs and better efficiency. LSL still holds Vikki in storage until investment to continue development and enable further production is provided.
Designs for the Mk 2 version were established in 2018, yet to be produced. The Mk 2 design thus is mature but needs to be checked out before entering public service. Please contact us if you would like to support further development.
LSL plans to use Vikki for further purposes to train new operators and for LTA-gas storage. We plan to produce the Mk 2 design instead (including new ground facilities) and then produce series types supplied for various purposes as products under lease or purchase arrangements.
The smaller, cheaper, more efficient Mk 2 design is planned to be packaged as a turnkey system in a single container with ground infrastructure able to be transported in a van – sufficient for new operators to begin. LSL also will provide training and support, as necessary. People interested to become an operator should register with us via contact.