LSL works to enable the buoyant aircraft (BA) industry (particularly dirigible types – airships), which use lighter-than-air (LTA) principles, to gain greater success. The following pages are provided to help with general information about the technology involved and associated LTA aspects, which involves both aerostatic and aerodynamic sciences that these aircraft use to fly – typically as pictured left, a unidirectional (UD) dirigible BA.
It should be noted that non-BA types (i.e., aeroplanes and rotorcraft), which belong to the established aircraft industry, hardly use LTA principles, relying on aerodynamic methods to fly. This generally needs much higher airspeed in the first place to take-off, climb and remain airborne, usually with energy intensive methods – one of the issues causing climate warming.
Items covered in this section include:
- Abbreviations
- Definitions
- BA Technology Documents
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Links
- Partners
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 non-BA 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 BA apart is their aerostat, which non-BA 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 all up weight (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 BA, 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.