The Allplane Podcast #132: Airships w/ Michael Kendrick, Mark Dorey & James Dexter (Straightline Aviation)
Michael Kendrick
Mark Dorey
James Dexter
Is the airship ready for a big comeback? This is not some sort of retro-futurist sci-fi scenario, since there are a handful of companies working to develop a new generation modern-day iteration of this iconic type of aircraft.
But, in fact, airships and, more generally, lighter than air aircraft never fully went away. The US Navy, for example, operated blimps until 1962 (and experimented with them again in the 2000s). Airships have also been used for advertising purposes and, for some time, even Richard Branson’s Virgin Group had an airship division.
Our guests today know all this very well because they experienced it first hand. In fact, I doubt there are many other people in the world right now with the sort of experience and knowledge about how to operate an airship.
Mike Kendrick, Mark Dorey and James Dexter boast decades of combined experience managing airships and they are now the management team of Straighline Aviation, a British startup that aims to become the world’s top airship operator.
If there is a technological advance that has prompted this renewed interest in the airship category, it is the development of the Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS), which enables airships to land, load and unload at pretty much any flat spot that is large enough. This double-chambered airship concept has been under development by Lockheed Martin and, later by, a spin-off company called AT² Aerospace, for about two decades.
As this technology approaches maturity, Straightline Aviation has been also refining its plans to deploy it commercially, with the plan to become the world’s first airship-based air cargo operator.
On today’s episode we assess what are the chances of this happening soon and what are the requirements for a successful commercial air ship operation. We also talk about Mike Kendrick’s earlier ventures in the airship space and how the team is preparing for a nonstop circumnavigation of the globe as soon as the first unit of this novel airship type becomes available.
So, tune in for a fascinating talk about airships and the role they may play in the future of aviation!
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Things we talk about in this episode
What is Straightline Aviation
How Straightline Aviation’s executive team created the largest airship operator in the world
The Virgin Airship and Balloon Company
Working with Richard Branson
Why the time is ripe for an airship renaissance
What technological changes have made airships again a feasible option for many missions
What are Straightline Aviation’s rollout plans
Resources
The Lockheed Martin airship we talk about
And AT² Aerospace, the Lockheed Martin spin-off which is currently developing the double-chambered airship with Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS) that Straightline Aviation intends to use
Types of lighter than air vehicles:
We also mention Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), another UK-based airship company that was also here, on the podcast
Virgin Balloon Flights (the present-day balloon business of the Virgin Group)
The 1920s Norge airship, which is mentioned in the conversation
The globe circumnavigation project which Straightline Aviation is planning
Some renderings of the Z1 double-chambered airship:
Mike Kendrick and Richard Branson is in Morocco for the launch of Branson’s 1998 circumnavigation attempt:
One of the advertising blimps Mike used to operate:
Podcast Music: Five Armies by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3762-five-armies
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Interview Transcript:
(please note that, although we strive to make it as close as possible to the original recording, the transcript may not be 100% accurate)
