A hybrid stratospheric airship for the combined and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, including: an inflatable central body; a first and second inflatable wing extending from the central body protruding laterally from two opposite sides of the central body, each wing having a portion proximal to the central body, an end portion distal from said central body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; an outer shell having a main shell portion associated with the main body, and a first and a second side shell portion associated with each wing, respectively; at least one main spar extending transversely to the central body, which supports the first and second wing and crosses the central body, the at least one main spar a rectilinear spar interposed between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first and second wings, and connected to the distal end portions of the wings.

A hybrid stratospheric airship for the combined and optimized use of aerostatic and aerodynamic force, including: an inflatable central body; a first and second inflatable wing extending from the central body protruding laterally from two opposite sides of the central body, each wing having a portion proximal to the central body, an end portion distal from said central body, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; an outer shell having a main shell portion associated with the main body, and a first and a second side shell portion associated with each wing, respectively; at least one main spar extending transversely to the central body, which supports the first and second wing and crosses the central body, the at least one main spar a rectilinear spar interposed between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the first and second wings, and connected to the distal end portions of the wings.

A method for erecting the structure of an aerostat in successive horizontal sections, starting from the top horizontal section, comprising an iteration of the following steps, starting from a current state of completion of the aerostat structure, lifting the current state of the structure, at first lifting points, by means of lifting means arranged in a current transverse position; placing a support device in line with second lifting points for lifting the current state of the structure; transferring the current state of the structure from the lifting means to the support device; moving the lifting means to another transverse position; completely assembling the horizontal section immediately below the current state of the structure on the structure.

A method for erecting the structure of an aerostat in successive horizontal sections, starting from the top horizontal section, comprising an iteration of the following steps, starting from a current state of completion of the aerostat structure, lifting the current state of the structure, at first lifting points, by means of lifting means arranged in a current transverse position; placing a support device in line with second lifting points for lifting the current state of the structure; transferring the current state of the structure from the lifting means to the support device; moving the lifting means to another transverse position; completely assembling the horizontal section immediately below the current state of the structure on the structure.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

An aircraft has a supporting structure and a shell that can be filled with a gas and which is tensioned by the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a plurality of rod or tube-shaped sections which define a circular, oval or polygonal main clamping plane for the shell.

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 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.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for constructing an airship quickly and cost-effectively are described. In one embodiments, a jig for constructing a mainframe of an airship structure may have a first rail and a second rail that are configured to be parallel to each other, the first rail and the second rail each forming an arc, multiple first supporting structures coupled to the first rail, wherein the first supporting structures have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the first rail, multiple second supporting structures coupled to the second rail, wherein the second supporting structures have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the second rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail are configured to interface with detachable wheels coupled to an outer surface of the mainframe and enable the mainframe to be rotated along its axis on the jig.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for constructing an airship quickly and cost-effectively are described. In one embodiments, a jig for constructing a mainframe of an airship structure may have a first rail and a second rail that are configured to be parallel to each other, the first rail and the second rail each forming an arc, multiple first supporting structures coupled to the first rail, wherein the first supporting structures have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the first rail, multiple second supporting structures coupled to the second rail, wherein the second supporting structures have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the second rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail are configured to interface with detachable wheels coupled to an outer surface of the mainframe and enable the mainframe to be rotated along its axis on the jig.