SkyCat
Encyclopedia
SkyCat is a class of proposed heavy-lift and ultra-heavy-lift hybrid aircraft which derive more than half of their lift by helium
buoyancy and the balance via aerodynamic lift
produced by aerodynamic shaping. Such vehicles are not "payload specific". Because the SkyCat designs incorporate hover cushion technology in place of wheels, they can take-off and land anywhere, including remote regions without need for airports or sophisticated forward based infrastructure.
The SkyKitten, a 1/6 linear scale model of a SkyCat design was built and flown by ATG (now defunct) in the United Kingdom
at Cardington
.
"SkyFreighter" is the name given by the Hybrid Aircraft Corporation to one of its implementations of the SkyCat design. These are proposed to carry heavy-lift and ultra-heavy-lift cargo payloads from 50 tons net payload to as heavy as 1000 tons which may be a mix of outsized and/or containerized objects.
The Skycat is almost impervious to light ordnance, such as automatic rifle or mortar fire, which will merely pass through the metallized PET film
envelope without causing critical helium loss.
SkyCat air vehicle developments are being pursued by at least one major aerospace company. DARPA concluded their "WALRUS
" contract with industry to explore technology options that might be employed in such vehicles as SkyCat in CY-2006.
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
buoyancy and the balance via aerodynamic lift
Lift (force)
A fluid flowing past the surface of a body exerts a surface force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag force, which is the component of the surface force parallel to the flow direction...
produced by aerodynamic shaping. Such vehicles are not "payload specific". Because the SkyCat designs incorporate hover cushion technology in place of wheels, they can take-off and land anywhere, including remote regions without need for airports or sophisticated forward based infrastructure.
The SkyKitten, a 1/6 linear scale model of a SkyCat design was built and flown by ATG (now defunct) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at Cardington
Cardington, Bedfordshire
Cardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, EnglandPart of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station...
.
"SkyFreighter" is the name given by the Hybrid Aircraft Corporation to one of its implementations of the SkyCat design. These are proposed to carry heavy-lift and ultra-heavy-lift cargo payloads from 50 tons net payload to as heavy as 1000 tons which may be a mix of outsized and/or containerized objects.
The Skycat is almost impervious to light ordnance, such as automatic rifle or mortar fire, which will merely pass through the metallized PET film
PET film (biaxially oriented)
BoPET is a polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate and is used for its high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparency, reflectivity, gas and aroma barrier properties and electrical insulation.A variety of companies manufacture boPET and other...
envelope without causing critical helium loss.
SkyCat air vehicle developments are being pursued by at least one major aerospace company. DARPA concluded their "WALRUS
Walrus HULA
The Walrus HULA was a proposed Hybrid Ultra Large Aircraft. The goal was to create an airship capable of traveling up to 12,000 nautical miles in range, while carrying 500-1000 tons of cargo...
" contract with industry to explore technology options that might be employed in such vehicles as SkyCat in CY-2006.