Aeroscraft Proof of Design Demonstration Vehicle: 'Dragon Dream'

To better understand the systems that enable the Aeroscraft's unique capabilities and game-changing potential, our engineers and experts explan underlying technology and major sub-systems.

The Aeroscraft is an innovative rigid variable buoyancy air vehicle developed to provide new ways of moving heavy and oversized cargo from point-of-origin to point-of-need, even to areas with damaged or under-developed infrastructure. The vehicle will begame-changing in global logistics and will help side-step infrastructure development costs and delays for numerous projects of global economic benefits, while providing new ways of moving heavy and oversized cargo from point-of-origin to point-of-need.

“The biggest obstacle that conventional and hybrid airships face when tackling the cargo function is their inability to control buoyancy. The requirement for ballast exchange, ground infrastructure and need for runways significantly limited the usefulness of traditional lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles for cargo applications, until now! By being able control the vehicle’s heaviness relative to the outside air, the Aeroscraft has eliminated the need for infrastructure and ground personnel from the equation, and opened a new area for cargo logistics, commercial and private aviation. -- Igor Pasternak, CEO, Aeroscraft Corp.

Aeros has great confidence we have developed a breakthrough, game-changing technology with the variably buoyancy Aeroscraft; an aircraft designed to deliver nearly twice the weight and many times the volume of cargo that can be carried by the largest fixed-wing aircraft operating in the world today, and deliver this cargo to new destinations through its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight capabilities. Internal buoyancy management and VTOL flight enable, for the first time in aviation history, airships to have independence from needing significant ground support, external ballast exchange or infrastructure.

THE COSH SYSTEM:COSH - or control-of-static-heaviness - is a proprietary buoyancy management system that permits the Aeroscraft to operate as a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle when flying, while allowing the vehicle to become heavier upon demand for hover and ground operations.

The COSH system pressurizes the inert helium within the aeroshell into Helium Pressure Envelopes (HPEs), reducing the gas’ lift capability. When reversed, this pressurized helium is then released back into the envelope, making the Aeroscraft lighter through added static lift.

Through the pilot’s touch control, the COSH system permits the vehicle to be configured to provide static heaviness necessary for off-loading personnel or cargo, with flexibility and without the limitation of taking on external ballast to stay grounded at destination.

The control of static heaviness system internally ballasts the non-flammable helium into the aircraft’s helium pressure envelopes (HPEs) (pictured above), helping the vehicle manage buoyant lift similarly to submarine's ballast management under water. Energy converters (EC) control the compression of helium to a determined

pressure and discharge it into Helium Pressure Envelopes at high speeds, through a system of pipes and control valves.

"The compression of helium into the HPE’s also creates a negative pressure within the Aeroshell, permitting air-expansion chambers to fill with readily-available environmental ballast (air), which acts in concert with reduced Helium lift to make the Aeroscraft heavier, when desired," Tim Kenny adds.

Initial production has begun for the 66-ton aircraft's revolutionary COSH system.

The COSH system's main component test articles are now in production following the system level design freeze.

"The HPE units contain and control the compressed helium and allow the overall helium volume envelope to be reduced or increased, enabling the air vehicle to become heavy or buoyant in a controlled manner.

Tim Kenny,Aeros Director,

Engineering"

air expansion chamber

HPE

RIGID STRUCTURE:Generally, modern airships have a non-rigid structure. And because of this, traditional airships rely on the gases that fill them to help mantain their shape. Harkening the earlier Zeppelin era, the Aeroscraft has a rigid structural design. It is the only rigid structured variable buoyancy air vehicle of its kind.

The Aeroscraft harnesses impressive material innovations over the past half Century that help it balance utility with weight budget management. Its rigid structure is derived from ultra-light carbon fiber and aluminum trusses designed at Aeros, which are reinforced with high strength composite tensioned cables,

The Aeroscraft’s truss structure is essential for cargo applications, helping the aircraft shoulder the burden of cargo loads, helping the vehicle achieve a faster cruise speed by combating aerodynamic forces in forward flight, and helping the Aeroscraft with improved weather resilience compared to traditional LTA vehicles. The rigid truss structure also provides an excellent range of hard points for mounting engines, canards, cockpit, propulsion systems, and other auxiliary systems both inside and outside of the hull mould line.

The rigid structure for the ‘Dragon Dream’ technology demonstration vehicle contains approximately 200 trusses, with the length of individual varying from 18 feet to 55 feet long. They impart needed strength with a lightness not possible in earlier airship eras.

"The Aeroscraft's rigid shell works in conjunction with an internal ballast control system to enable new runway-independent ways of moving large project cargo." explains Aeros Sr. Aeronautical Engineer Armen Amirian.

"The Aeroscraft's rigid shell works in conjunction with an internal ballast control system to enable new runway-independent ways of moving large project cargo. Armen Amirian

Sr. Aeronautical Engineer

"

AEROSCRAFT AEROSHELL:

The Aeroshell is a rigid structure representing the major external frame of the Aeroscraft. The Aeroshell maintains the Aeroscraft’s shape in flight, unlike blimps that maintain their shape through internal pressure, helping transfer the

aerodynamic forces through to the rigid internal structural truss system.

If the rigid truss framework can be thought of the vehicle’s ‘bones,’ then the Aeroshell can be thought of as its muscle and skin. Together aluminum and textiles synergistically provided the Aeroscraft with the desired lightweight rigid structure that imparts its form.

The Aeroshell is comprised of two principle elements. Mechanical Engineer, Gita Temelkova explains both in greater detail.

"The first element are the custom honeycomb aluminum panels, in which ultra-light-weight geometric design is sandwiched between sheets of aluminum,

providing a structural element with a great strength to weigh ratio," explains Temelkova. "The placement and alignment of these aluminum elements gives the Aeroscraft its shape, when draped with modern lightweight textiles."

The ‘skin’ of the ‘Dragon Dream’ vehicle is a proprietary combination of Mylar and other lightweight fiber-based materials selected by engineers to impart desired characteristics, like solar reflectivity, helium retention, strength, and durability.

"The aeroshell is custom honeycomb aluminum panels, in which the ultra-light-weight geometric design is sandwiched between sheets of aluminum, providing a structural element with a great strength to weigh ratio.

Gita Temelkova Mechanical

Engineer"

THE VECTORED THRUST ENGINES AND VTOL:Similar to a submarine, the Aeroscraft has the ability to ascend and descend because of a unique variable bouyancy system that allows for the aircraft to generate static and dynamic lift through a combination of gas buoyancy mangaement and thrust vectoring.

The Aeroscraft also is equipped with vectored thrust engines that rotate and allow for advanced maneuverability as well as aid VTOL flight operations like a helicopter.

The vectored thrust engines give the Aeroscraft the ability to propel itself in foward flight and aids the vehicle with hover operations and any ground-based taxiing maneuvers.

Aeros 66-ton configuration will have multiple electric propulsion units that will provide 360 degree flexibility powered by diesel generators. By using diesel electric fuel for the propulsion system, the Aeroscraft fleet will be quieter, have

a robust system with lower mantainence costs, and will not be limited to aviation fueling stations.

Aeros will be utilizing a diesel to electric propulsion system that provides needed advantages like overcoming the aviation fuel distribution limitations that would complicate global operations for a vehicle like the Aeroscraft that is infrastructure independent.

"The ability to hover for hours over a targeted area and rapidly load and/or offload cargo without ballast problems is what sets Aeroscraft apart from the rest," explaines Engineering Manager, John Wertz.

It isn't just the Aeroscraft's uniqe ability to hover without the need for external ballast that sets it apart from the rest. The propulsion system will help The Aeroscraft deliver greater fuel efficiency in operations. The Aeroscraft is also extremely environmentally friendly burning only 1/3 the fuel of traditional aircraft to stay aloft.

"The ability to hover for hours over a targeted area and/or rapidly load and offload cargo without ballast problems is what sets Aeroscraft apart from the rest, John Wertz,

Engineering Manager

"

AVIONICS:The Aeroscraft's avionic system was specifically designed to compliment a vehicle that combines flight attributes of fixed-wing, rotary and traditional lighter-than-air vehicles. The Aeroscraft's avionic system was also designed with special focus on streamlining pilot control to make flying more manageable, and feature a centralized control system with the modern glass cockpit.

Unlike the conventional fixed-wing yoke, the Aeroscraft is equipped with a side-stick controller--allowing both pilot and co-pilot a full range of control from either seat.

Numerous cameras onboard the aircraft optimize situational awareness and systems monitoring, providing operators instant perspective inside and outside the aircraft from numerous vantage points.

"Reducing the workload of pilots is what we are aiming to achieve," stated Aerospace Control Engineer Louis Pu. "By combining both a standard suite of flight technologies and the technologies of the VMS, the

Aeros' avionics system will provide a more manageable, user-friendly experience." Much like the aircrafts in use today, the Aeros' engines are controlled and backed up by standard throttle levers and hard switches. However, what sets Aeros' systems apart from the rest is that everything is communicated through a VMS, eliminating need for extra support -- such as flight engineers.

Aeros’ avionics system includes a state of the art, centralized vehicle management system (VMS) that allows pilots to simultaneously coordinate with all vehicle sub systems, at any stage of flight. With just a tap on Aeros’ touch screen control systems (along with the help of its suite of flight instruments), pilots can manage the COSH system, vertical thrust engines, landing systems, low speed control, etc. -- all without the need for additional ground support.

Production of Aeros' 66 and 250 ton avionics system will also include onboard weather systems and automated cargo handling systems -- eliminating need for loadmasters.

"Reducing the workload of pilots is what we are aiming to achieve. By combining both a standard suite of flight technologies and the technologies of the VMS, the Aeros' avionics system will provide a more manageable, user-friendly experience.

Louis Pu,Aerospace

Control Engineer"

THE LANDING SYSTEM:Building infrastructure to support cargo-carrying aircraft takes an abundance of both time and money. By replacing the more familiar landing gears found on traditional, fixed-wing aircraft's today, the Aeroscraft will eliminate both the need for extra time and funding in a variety of aspects.

The air-bearing landing system is another truly a one-of-a-kind system that helps aid the Aeroscraft's unique functionality. The landing system allows for the Aeroscraft to land on virtually any surface—including unimproved surfaces and water.

The system is equipped with powerful gripping and suction capabilities. These capabilities play a major role in allowing the Aeroscraft stay grounded after arriving to a destination for cargo offloading. The system is capable of absorbing energy

during vertical landings, of providing suction between the air vehicle and the ground to stabilize the air vehicle during passenger/cargo unloading and high wind conditions.

The landing system also provides positive buoyancy to reduce friction to sufficiently to allow the air vehicle to taxi.

When completed, the Aeroscraft's landing system will measure in at ~70 ft long and 10 ft tall and will be designed with materials that are capable of withstanding virtually any environmental condition.

"What makes the landing cushions truly unique is their ability to inflate and deflate based on surface conditions," says Alex Canto, Director of Quality Control "With a press of a button, certain sides of the landing systems simply deflate and inflate to compensate for uneven terrain--allowing

the Aeroscraft to appear as though it has just landed on an even surface."

The Aeroscraft's landing system also has the capability to elevate the fusil lodge high enough for ground loading and offloading.

Contacts: John KiehlePhone: (323) 201-8374 john.kiehle@aeroscraft.com

Sarah HollinsPhone: (323) 201-83732 sarah.hollins@aeroscraft.com

"With a press of a button, certain sides of the landing systems simply deflate and inflate to compensate for uneven terrain--allowing the Aeroscraft to appear as though it has just landed on an even surface

Alex Canto Director of

Quality Control"