Los Angeles-based Aeros Corporation is developing an electric variable buoyancy airship (eVBA) called the “Aeroscraft.”
While it may look similar in shape to earlier models of blimps or dirigibles, it is an entirely new design. Its most unique feature is its control-of-static-heaviness (COSH) system, which gives it VTOL and hover abilities. The eVBA is now attracting attention from potential government and commercial customers.
Aside from its Shape, the Aeroscraft is Not at All Like a Blimp
At first glance, the Aeroscraft cargo airship appears to have the same shape as blimps and dirigible airships, but that is where the similarities end. The COSH system sets it apart. The older airships had to use ballast to maintain altitude when loading and unloading cargo.
“If you off-loaded 100 tons, your helium-filled aircraft will float away if not first loaded with 100 tons of ballast at your pre-determined destination,” said Igor Pasternak, CEO and chief engineer at Aeros. “Inefficient and limiting, this is why airships never transitioned into cargo airships.”
Compressed Helium Allows the Aeroscraft to Operate Without Ballast
The COSH system manages the Aeroscraft’s buoyancy by compressing non-flammable helium into containers the company calls “helium pressure envelopes.”
When the helium is compressed, the aircraft will become heavier than air for landing, ground handling, and unloading. When the pressure on the helium is released, the aircraft will become buoyant for vertical takeoff and flights. In 2015, Aeros received a U.S. patent for the COSH system.
“The Aeroscraft is similar to a giant ‘flying submarine’ because of [our] proprietary internal buoyancy management system that compresses inert helium within to overcome traditional requirements for external ballast exchange when unloading cargo,” said Pasternak.
Rigid Internal Structure Unique Among Airships
Another key difference in the Aeroscraft is its internal structure. Other airships are filled with gas and rely on internal pressure to maintain their shape, while the Aeroscraft has a rigid internal structure and does not use pressure to maintain its shape.
The Aeroscraft also has a unique propulsion system. It gets its power from an electrical motor and a hydrogen fuel cell. The motor will generate electricity from an electrochemical reaction. It will have no moving parts and be silent. Aeros refers to it as “a clean source of power.” The largest planned model, the ML888, will have a range of 6,200 miles.
The Aeroscraft will have another unique feature: the Air Bearing Landing System (ABLS). The ABLS will replace the traditional landing gear on other aircraft, allowing it to land on uneven, unimproved surfaces and even water. This feature is essential for the Aeroscraft’s vertical takeoff and landing capability. Aeros has also received a patent for the ABLS.
Cargo Capacity to Exceed Other Aircraft
Aeros states that the Aeroscraft cargo airship will have some significant operating advantages. One of these advantages will be its cargo capacity. The company has successfully tested a 266-foot-long prototype that can carry six tons. It plans for the ML866 to be 555 feet long with a cargo capacity of 66 tons. The larger ML888 will be 770 feet long with a payload capacity of 244 tons.
The ML866 will carry cargo internally in a 264,000-cubic-foot cargo bay. Conversely, the ML888 will feature a 1,034,100-cubic-foot cargo bay. It can load and unload cargo without landing and has its own in-flight cargo sorting system.
Pentagon Approves Aeroscraft for Military Applications
These features will enable the Aeroscraft to perform a variety of missions. In 2013, the US government conducted a series of tests under the Pentagon’s ‘Project Pelican’ Program. The tests verified the capabilities of the COSH system and low-speed control systems. The Pentagon then approved further development and production of the Aeroscraft.
The aircraft has the potential to be used on military missions requiring heavy cargo to be deployed in all conditions to remote locations without developed airfields.
Huge Potential to Help with Disaster Relief
The Aeroscraft could also supply critical payloads during disasters like the recent fires in California. The ML888 will be able to carry as much as 72,000 gallons of water or foam. For comparison, a Sikorsky S70 helicopter can hold 1,000 gallons of water, and a C-130 can carry 3,000 gallons.
Commercial Applications to Delivery Items with Speed and Efficiency
The Aeroscraft will also have critical commercial applications. In October 2024, Aeros agreed to partner with fellow Los Angeles-based company Shipbots to deliver packages to individual customers. Shipbots packages and ships products from hundreds of companies, including clothing and electronics manufacturers.
Under this plan, an Aeroscraft will serve as an airborne warehouse hovering over a city or other area. Then, Shipbot drones will carry the packages from the airship directly to customers. The companies call this the Airborne Fulfillment Center (AFC). The companies are reporting several major benefits to customers from this plan. These include delivering packages 60 minutes after ordering and reducing shipping costs by 60%.
A single Aeroscraft airship will be able to deliver 4000 packages per hour, making it a very efficient operation. In a single year, this will replace 110 delivery vans.
“With the AFC, we can make delivery vans a thing of the past,” said Payam Ahdoot, CEO of Shipbots.
