The Airship Prize

From NYTimes.com: “Imagine gliding in a floating hotel over the Serengeti, gazing down at herds of zebra or elephants; or floating over Paris as the sun sets and lights blink on across the city as you pass the Eiffel Tower. Such flights of fancy may one day be possible, if the dream of Jean-Marie Massaud, a French architect, comes true. As the cost of fuel soars and the pressure mounts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, several schemes for a new generation of airship are being considered by governments and private companies. “It’s a romantic project,” said Mr. Massaud, 45, sitting amid furniture designs in his Paris studio, “but then look at Jules Verne.””
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From NYTimes.com: “A new generation of dirigibles is being considered by governments and private companies as the price of fuel rises and concern for the environment grows. An airship operated by Deutsche Zeppelin- Reederei is shown preparing for a flight.” Follow the link below to the New York Times online presentation A New Age for Dirigibles

In February 2008, three individuals with a passion and interest in the development of freight transport airships banded together to begin development of the Airship Prize. Ron Hochstetler, Barry Prentice and Jeff Ashcroft all came to jointly build this initiative from different but very complementary backgrounds, and short Bios of each of these Founders are shown below for your information. Meet the Airship Prize Founders

From Boeing.com: ” The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and SkyHook International Inc. today announced a teaming agreement to develop the JHL-40 (Jess Heavy Lifter), a new commercial heavy-lift rotorcraft designed to address the limitations and expense of transporting equipment and materials in remote regions. Boeing has received the first increment of a multiyear contract from SkyHook to develop the new aircraft. (more…)

Over the last couple of years my interest and excitment around the concept of reviving and renewing airship transport technology of the blimp or zeppelin variety has been growing steadily. Today I’m now utterly convinced these massive dinosaurs of the sky from the early 1900s actually have the potential to re-emerge and change our world for the better. (more…)

The Airship Prize for the successful development and flight race of a Zero (or low) Emission Transport Airship (ZETA) is now under development guided initially by Ron Hochstetler, Barry Prentice and Jeff Ashcroft.

First step will be the development of very specific criteria for the significant cash award to the winning team based on rate of emissions, flight speed, transport capacity and cargo transfer capability.

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