DARPA Walrus HULA (Hybrid Ultra-Large Airship) program

[flateric]

Is Walrus program dead forever or...?

 

[yasotay]

As dead as the Rotodyne concept and stop fold rotors....

Dormant is probably a better term.

 

[LowObservable]

The problem of fast strategic lift remains unsolved... and Aeroscraft has received a contract from DARPA for what was one of the key Walrus technologies.

 

[CammNut]

Dead, dead, dead....but

Aeros is still pursuing the Aeroscraft partially-bouyant-hybrid-airship-thingy and has persuaded DARPA to fund flight tests of a flightweight prototype of its "control of static heaviness" system, which it demonstrated on the ground under its Walrus contract.

COSH is basically a lightweight compressor and storage tanks that, well, compress and store the helium in the envelope to make the vehicle heavier, then release it to make the vehicle lighter. They plan to fly it in a small Aeros 40D airship some time in 2008.

Lockheed, as we know, did fly a subscale prototype of its Walrus concept, so...

 

[flateric]

Igor Pasternak's company? Wuahaha

 

[LowObservable]

What do you know of Igor P?

 

[Triton]

Video of Aeros Aeroscraft for DARPA Walrus Hybrid Ultra-Large Airship program.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-M97AJtems

Artist's impression of Aeros Aeroscraft HULA concept.

Source: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/aeros-dreaming-big-with-walrus-project-01898/

 

[Triton]

Aeroscraft

http://youtu.be/p9Jl3MJh0lI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEu-IZTq04w&feature=share&list=UUsuWsVfHppsSqLoKBYY7Y0w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwvhbC2REs0&feature=share&list=UUsuWsVfHppsSqLoKBYY7Y0w

 

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Aeroscraft.

Source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66160244@N06/

 

[Stargazer]

an Aeroscraft model at Le Bourget:

 

[Triton]

Artist's impression of Aeroscraft HULA concept.

Source:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/06/aeros_pentagon_deal/