Hybrid Air Vehicles is all set to include its flagship ‘Airlander 10’ in the flying display at Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to be held in 2027, as a part of five-year corporate partnership. RIAT is arranged by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) and attracts around 200,000 people over the weekend.
The partnership and planned demonstration are a part of RIAT’s strategy to become a more sustainable event and exhibit new technologies that contribute towards the decarbonisation of the aerospace sector.
As a part of the agreement HAV will be more involved with the show’s focus on STEM careers and training, establishing the skills and talent pipeline needed for the UK’s aerospace sector to harness and develop new green opportunities like Airlander in the build-up to 2027’s landmark flying display.
Delighted to partner with Hybrid Air Vehicles, Kate McKinley, people and sustainability director at RAFCTE said: “For us, sustainability represents a huge area of responsibility. As an event we are determined to make clear, measurable, and positive changes to the way we work, to do the right thing. We are aware that these changes will not happen overnight, and we want to ensure that we make real lasting improvements to the way we work. In future we hope to establish ourselves as industry leaders in this area, and partnerships like this are a huge sign of intent.”
Starting with the 2022 show, RIAT has set a series of objectives to minimise the environmental impact of the event. As part of this drive, the show set an objective to showcase the technology and sustainability innovation in aerospace. The 2022 show marked the first time that electric light aircraft were exhibited at the show.
Tom Grundy, chief executive, Hybrid Air Vehicles, said: “Today’s partnership with the Royal International Air Tattoo further strengthens Hybrid Air Vehicles’ position as a leader in aerospace decarbonisation. Working with RIAT towards the 2027 edition, we look forward to exhibiting our ultra-low emissions Airlander at the world’s largest military airshow, and demonstrating first-hand its unique capabilities.”
Hybrid Air Vehicles specialises in sustainable aircraft technology and has developed Airlander, an ultra-low emissions aircraft capable of delivering up to 90% emissions reduction across short-haul domestic transport, long-haul freight operations and long-endurance military logistics and surveillance.
Hybrid Air Vehicles claim that the Airlander is an innovative hybrid aircraft that delivers efficient, cost-effective passenger transport, freight, and communications & surveillance services. It represents a new transportation category, between today’s fast, expensive, carbon-intensive air services and slower infrastructure-dependent surface transport, with significant application in defence.
“Airlander 10, which we plan to demonstrate at RIAT 2027, is just the first of a planned ‘family’ of Airlander aircraft. Airlander 50, under development already, will increase the aircraft’s payload to 50+ tonnes, providing air connections for large or outsize loads such as shipping containers, critical infrastructure and material,” Grundy concluded.