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 solar powered airship includes a cabin, at least one fuselage having an interior volume filled with a volume of a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, and a wing affixed to the fuselage. A plurality of solar panels are affixed to the wing and to the fuselage. A plurality of rotors are affixed to the wing, wherein each rotor is powered via an electric motor having a battery that is operably connected to the plurality of solar panels, thereby allowing for continuous flight. The solar powered airship may further include propellers, which may also be powered via the solar panels, or which may include gasoline powered motors. The solar powered airship can include various configurations and numbers of fuselages, wings, rotors, and propellers.

A solar powered airship includes a cabin, at least one fuselage having an interior volume filled with a volume of a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, and a wing affixed to the fuselage. A plurality of solar panels are affixed to the wing and to the fuselage. A plurality of rotors are affixed to the wing, wherein each rotor is powered via an electric motor having a battery that is operably connected to the plurality of solar panels, thereby allowing for continuous flight. The solar powered airship may further include propellers, which may also be powered via the solar panels, or which may include gasoline powered motors. The solar powered airship can include various configurations and numbers of fuselages, wings, rotors, and propellers.

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 highly maneuverable craft, which may be lighter-than-air, is disclosed, having undulating fins of a light-weight material that may undulate along the horizontal axis of the craft and/or rotate 360 degrees and continuously about the central longitudinal axis of the craft. The fins may be actuated by motors coupled to the fins and coupled to the exterior of the craft via circumferential bands. Motion of the fins creates aerodynamic thrust. The circumferential bands may serve as tracks or channels along which the motors run, allowing the motors to travel 360 degrees or travel continuously around the exterior of the craft and thereby draw the fins about the craft. The circumferential bands may serve as reinforcing components, allowing the motors to exert torque against the body of the craft which may be thin-walled for maximum positive buoyancy. An on-board battery may power the motors via electrical circuits extending around the bands. The position and travel of the motors about the bands may be controlled by a central processing unit. A moveable weight, such as on a track with a motor, may be incorporated into or onto the craft for additional pitch control.

A highly maneuverable craft, which may be lighter-than-air, is disclosed, having undulating fins of a light-weight material that may undulate along the horizontal axis of the craft and/or rotate 360 degrees and continuously about the central longitudinal axis of the craft. The fins may be actuated by motors coupled to the fins and coupled to the exterior of the craft via circumferential bands. Motion of the fins creates aerodynamic thrust. The circumferential bands may serve as tracks or channels along which the motors run, allowing the motors to travel 360 degrees or travel continuously around the exterior of the craft and thereby draw the fins about the craft. The circumferential bands may serve as reinforcing components, allowing the motors to exert torque against the body of the craft which may be thin-walled for maximum positive buoyancy. An on-board battery may power the motors via electrical circuits extending around the bands. The position and travel of the motors about the bands may be controlled by a central processing unit. A moveable weight, such as on a track with a motor, may be incorporated into or onto the craft for additional pitch control.

A solar powered airship includes a cabin, at least one fuselage having an interior volume filled with a volume of a lighter-than-air gas such as helium, and a wing affixed to the fuselage. A plurality of solar panels are affixed to the wing and to the fuselage. A plurality of rotors are affixed to the wing, wherein each rotor is powered via an electric motor having a battery that is operably connected to the plurality of solar panels, thereby allowing for continuous flight. The solar powered airship may further include propellors, which may also be powered via the solar panels, or which may include gasoline powered motors. The solar powered airship can include various configurations and numbers of fuselages, wings, rotors, and propellors.