The present invention concerns hybrid airship comprising at least one buoyancy enclosure containing a gas lighter than air, a gondola attached below the buoyancy enclosure, the gondola extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one propeller configured to propel the hybrid airship, the at least one propeller being attached to the buoyancy enclosure, at least one generator, configured to provide power to the propeller, the generator being connected to the gondola. The hybrid airship comprises an arm protruding from the gondola and connecting the generator to the gondola.

A propulsive assembly, in particular for an aircraft, comprising a mast and a propulsion device comprising an engine and a nacelle, the engine comprising a propeller, the propulsive assembly comprising: A standby protection device comprising a first connecting member fixedly mounted to the mast and a second connecting member fixedly mounted to the propulsion device, the second connecting member being rotatably hinged with respect to the first connecting member in at least one degree of freedom, and at least one retaining member keeping the second connecting member fixed with respect to the first connecting member, and configured, in the presence of a predetermined unbalance force on the propeller, to release the standby protection device in order to protect the mast.

An airship comprises a plurality of electric power generators; a plurality of electrical buses; and a plurality of propulsion points each equipped with a propellant bundle formed from a plurality of thrusters of the electric-motor-driven propeller type. For each of the propulsion points, a thruster is electrically connected to one of the generators by way of one of the electrical buses, and another thruster of the propulsion point is electrically connected to another of the generators by way of another of the electrical buses.

An airship comprises a plurality of electric power generators; a plurality of electrical buses; and a plurality of propulsion points each equipped with a propellant bundle formed from a plurality of thrusters of the electric-motor-driven propeller type. For each of the propulsion points, a thruster is electrically connected to one of the generators by way of one of the electrical buses, and another thruster of the propulsion point is electrically connected to another of the generators by way of another of the electrical buses.

A lighter-than-air airship has an exoskeleton constructed of spokes and hubs to create a set of connected hexagrams comprised of isosceles triangles wherein the spokes flex and vary in length to produce the slope of said airship's surface. In one embodiment, the exoskeleton connects to a nose cone that includes a cockpit cabin for controlling the airship's operation from a single location that can be physically separated from the exoskeleton in response to catastrophic events and for autonomous and/or remotely piloted operation. An improved means is also provided for landing and unloading cargo, and through use of unmanned aerial vehicles in another embodiment, the airship is configured for remote pickup, transport, delivery and return of payloads such as packages. In yet another embodiment, the airship provides a communications platform for beam form transmission and satellite signal relay, including in combination with the foregoing disclosed attributes.

A system for transporting hydrogen from where it can be economically made to where it is most needed using airships. Green technologies can be used to generate electricity near to the primary energy sources. This electricity can then be used to produce hydrogen directly from water. Hydrogen can be delivered using an airship in which the hydrogen gas can also be used for generating lift, providing propulsion energy and serving ancillary needs. The ship can be equipped with solar cells that generate electricity that can be used to make hydrogen from water, and can be used to power the ship's propulsion system.

A system for transporting hydrogen from where it can be economically made to where it is most needed using airships. Green technologies can be used to generate electricity near to the primary energy sources. This electricity can then be used to produce hydrogen directly from water. Hydrogen can be delivered using an airship in which the hydrogen gas can also be used for generating lift, providing propulsion energy and serving ancillary needs. The ship can be equipped with solar cells that generate electricity that can be used to make hydrogen from water, and can be used to power the ship's propulsion system.

Some embodiments described herein relate to an aircraft that includes a support frame, at least one gas compartment, and multiple propulsion units. The gas compartment(s) can be coupled to the support frame and configured to contain a gas having a gas density less than the density of atmospheric air surrounding the aircraft during operation. Similarly stated, the gas-filled gas compartment(s) can produce a gas lifting force on the support frame. The propulsion units can each be configured to selectively produce a propulsive force with a thrust vector with a non-zero component along a vertical axis of the support frame. The maximum gross weight of the aircraft can be greater than either the gas lifting force of the maximum vertical propulsion force and less than the sum of the gas lifting force and the maximum vertical propulsion force.

The invention relates to an aircraft having a supporting structure (12) and a shell (10) that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure (12). According to the invention, said supporting structure (12) comprises a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections (24-30) which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell (10).

The invention relates to an aircraft having a supporting structure (12) and a shell (10) that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure (12). According to the invention, said supporting structure (12) comprises a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections (24-30) which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell (10).