Large electric aircraft could fly Scottish lifeline routes

The potential of using aircraft described as being part-plane-part-airship on Scottish lifeline routes is to be explored in a new project. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is looking at how its Airlander 10 could carry passengers and freight around the Highlands and Islands. HAV has previously carried out test flights in England using a prototype. It was the world's longest aircraft at 302ft (92m) long and completed six successful test flights. The prototype was retired in November 2017 after it broke free from its mooring mast, triggering a safety system which deflated the aircraft. Bedford-based HAV is currently designing an all-electric variant of the Airlander. The company said it would be a zero-carbon emissions aircraft and was scheduled to be operational by the end of the decade. The three-month study is being supported by a consortium of organisations, including Highlands and Islands Airport (Hial), Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Orkney Island Council and Glasgow-based airline Loganair. HAV said the project would seek to understand how Airlander 10 could support "sustainable mobility" in the Highlands and Islands, and boost connectivity for communities across the region. The aircraft, which combines airship and fixed wing aircraft technology, could carry 100 passengers or 10 tonnes of freight.<br/>