Luffships Ltd (LSL) works to help the buoyant aircraft industry (particularly dirigible types) become successful. The following pages are provided to help with general information about associated lighter-than-air (LTA) technology, which involves both aerostatic and aerodynamic sciences that buoyant aircraft use for flight.
It should be noted that nonbuoyant aircraft (i.e., aeroplanes and rotorcraft) belonging to the established aircraft industry, only use aerodynamic methods to fly, i.e., heavier-than-air (HTA) technology. Much higher airspeed is enabled by this but usually needs energy intensive methods – one of the issues exacerbating climate warming.
Items covered in this section include:
- Abbreviations
- Definitions
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Q&As 1 about Luffships
- Q&As 2 about airships generally – Introduction
- What is an airship?
- Why were former airships abandoned?
- Airships are big and slow; aren’t they vulnerable to hostile action?
- How do airships work?
- What happens if an airship gets a hole in it?
- What determines an airship’s size?
- What about weather effects on airship operations?
- Why Airships for surveillance instead of other things?
We regret that airships don’t feature very much in today’s society, partly to do with poor attitude towards them shaped by many critics without due balance. Nonetheless, we think they are needed to fulfil duties that nonbuoyant aircraft don’t suit and likely never will. We are aware of the issues; where LSL provides new ways to follow that properly addresses them.
A basic feature setting buoyant aircraft apart is their aerostat, which nonbuoyant aircraft don’t use. This component is the part that truly is LTA, enabling uplift from the atmosphere to carry it together with all other parts, systems, disposable loads and payloads of the aircraft’s AUW. Indeed, aerostats need the rest of an aircraft’s weight to counter buoyancy enabled.
If there are other things that you would like to know more about or have further questions concerning buoyant aircraft, just let us know. Also, for people who consider they are experts in the art, we should be happy to review any changes or inclusions felt necessary. After all, we wish to correctly dispel myths and false or unbalanced information.
