sky yacht blimp

Inside the jaw-dropping $1B superyacht equipped with its own detachable blimp

An unbelievable $1 billion superyacht that comes with its own detachable airship is gearing up to dominate the seas.

Plans for the jaw-dropping Colossea — a 699-foot-long cruiser — were debuted this week by Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini, famous for his futuristic designs.

The sleek and futuristic vessel looks much like any other superyacht coasting across the ocean, except for the incredible blimp stationed on its upper deck, equipped with technology that would allow it to take off for its own voyage from the middle of the ocean.

“The Colossea mega-yacht is an itinerant floating docking station for the detachable airship,” Lazzarini’s namesake design studio said in a statement.

The concept was born from the same design group that introduced the Plectrum: a futuristic, 242-foot superyacht capable of traveling at speeds of 86 miles per hour above the water line — similar to a hoverboard.  

The conceptual design for the Colossea was crafted as a tribute to the N1 airship Norge, which made the first trip of any kind to the North Pole nearly a century ago.

The Colossea’s blimp replicates the same iconic design and measurements as its predecessor but with modern materials and propulsion.

It would also include its own major upgrade — a super-yacht with a take-off and landing strip perfectly formed to the blimp’s curvature.

When the captain decides it’s time for flight, the yacht follows the procedures to unlock the electromagnetic blocks that keep the airship mounted and unhook the winches to release the airship’s lift.

Up to 24 lucky passengers, plus 10 crewmembers, can fit inside the blimp.

The yacht is an impressive feat of design in its own right — it offers 22 guest suites and multiple decks with indoor and outdoor pools on the rear.

It also had space on its deck for a helicopter pad, a typically grand feature that pales in comparison to the blimp.

Up to 44 guests and 20 crew members can enjoy the yacht.

While only still a conceptual design, the Colossea would cost an estimated $1 billion to construct.

The flying megayacht: Italian designer devises exclusive catamaran blimp

The aerospace industry is currently living through an era of innovation, unlike anything it has seen in recent years. From drones and air taxis to sea gliders and new clean propulsion technologies, it seems that the floodgates of creativity are wide open following decades of slow but steady incremental advances. Even airships may be about to stage a comeback .

This passion for innovation is encouraging entrepreneurs from across the globe to propose ever more outlandish concepts — one of which is the eye-catching Air Yacht, a hybrid vehicle that looks like a crossover between an airship and a catamaran.

This futuristic aircraft is the work of Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini, founder of Rome -based Lazzarini Design Studio, which has designed a number of innovative projects for the automotive, yachting and aerospace industries.

Composed of two large parallel blimps linked together by carbon fiber bridges that hold the whole structure together, the amphibious Air Yacht would be able to move almost seamlessly through the air and water. Passengers and cargo would travel in a rigid, aerodynamic cabin between the two blimp structures.

This levitating contraption, which would be powered by hydrogen and solar power from its rooftop panels, would be able to reach speeds of up 70 knots (nearly 81 mph) when flying and 5 knots (almost 6 mph) when sailing, its designers say.

The choice of hydrogen is an interesting one, as other recent airship projects have opted to use helium instead of hydrogen.

Asked about this decision, a spokesperson at the design studio said it opted for hydrogen due to its larger lifting power, which makes it possible to limit the volume of the blimps. Despite hydrogen being flammable, current technologies and materials make it possible to use the gas safely and securely, the studio says.

While the original concept measured a whopping 265 meters (869 feet) long and was capable of carrying 200 passengers, the latest iteration is much more compact at 100 meters (328 feet) long. (Presumably, it would have a somewhat lower payload, too.)

The Air Yacht has a stated flying endurance of 48 hours, and it is being designed to allow for boarding and deboarding while on the move. Helicopters would be able to land on a helipad located on top of the cabin to drop off or pick up passengers, the studio says.

Given the limited number of travelers with access to helicopters, it's not surprising that the aircraft concept is targeted at wealthy individuals as a flying megayacht of sorts. The luxe cabin design features a shipowner's suite that occupies the central space and provides 360-degree views. Additionally, there are five smaller suites, plus a large area for lounging and dining.

Although Lazzarini Design Studio has yet to secure investors for the Air Yacht, the studio is moving forward with testing a 30-meter (98-foot) scale model in Germany later this year.

There will likely be some unexpected challenges in this next phase of the Air Yacht's production journey, and only time will tell whether this latest aircraft will help spark a renewed interest in airships.

Inside A Bonkers $1 BILLION Superyacht Concept That Comes With Its Own Blimp

Watch the 699-foot behemoth and its detachable blimp in a teaser video.

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Not since the airplane hangar-equipped, $1 billion G-Quest have we seen a boat as unabashedly ambitious as the Colossea.

The 699-foot cruiser, which is also estimated to cost an audacious $1 billion if taken from concept to harbor, is the brainchild of Pierpaolo Lazzarini of Lazzarini Design , who previously rendered the “Plectrum” hydrofoil superyacht .

While helicopters and yacht tenders impress on today’s finest vessels, the Colossea puts those ancillary transportation modes to shame with an “itinerant floating docking station for the detachable airship,” Lazzarini noted in a statement.

That 347-foot airship isn’t just the crux of the Colossea, but the inspiration. As noted in an accompanying animation, it pays tribute to the Norge airship that embarked on the first expedition to the North Pole in 1926.

According to the New York Post , the Colossea’s blimp features the same core design and measurements as the Norge’s but utilizes modern materials, propulsion and an electromagnetic landing strip perfectly formed to its shape.

Up to 24 passengers and 10 crewmembers can ride in the blimp, while the yacht itself offers accommodations for up to 44 guests and 20 crew members across 22 guest suites.

A trio of high-temperature superconductor engines engines would be capable of pushing the vessel to a speed of 22 knots (25 mph)—the airship’s propellers can also be initiated for a boost.

And of course there are more standard superyacht amenities for passengers to enjoy, including a plethora of pools and decks scattered throughout the ship.

It seems that Lazzarini does have a dream client in mind: One of his renderings features a banner that reads “Elon get in touch!” flying from the rear of the Colossea’s airship. After all, what’s $1 billion to a man with a net worth of nearly $200 billion?

Visit Lazzarini Design’s website for more on the Colossea.

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air yacht concept by pierpaolo lazzarini sails both skies and seas with zero emissions

Pierpaolo lazzarini introduces zero-emission air yacht .

while long-distance traveling by air doesn’t allow full electric mobility yet, italian designer pierpaolo lazzarini thinks there is actually a solution to sailing both skies and oceans without emissions in the future — the ‘air yacht ‘. this latest boundary-pushing watercraft takes shape as a 150-meter-long vessel that can fly in the sky pushed by a 400.000 m3 (200.000 m3 on each side) of helium. the flying object can hypothetically reach a maximum speed of 60 knots, for more than 48 hours consequently, and can then safely land on the sea surface, thanks to its inflatable base. 

all images courtesy of lazzarini design

150-meter-long yacht flies in the sky and floats on the sea

the air yacht by pierpaolo lazzarini (find more here ) incorporates two extended side blimps, resulting in an overall length of 150 meters and a width of 80 meters. each floating structure (20m x 20m x 150m ) is subdivided into hive areas (cells), ensuring hermetic isolation of each helium compartment. inside the blimps, there are also tanks of compressed helium which release the necessary quantity in order to balance the aircraft. the two airships are connected through four carbon bridges on each side, connecting the main central structure to the two floating balloons. in the lower part, these floating structures incorporate an inflatable base to accommodate the yacht while it floats on the water surface.

lazzarini’s creation is also equipped with eight counter-rotating electric engines of 950hp each, powered by ultra-light batteries and solar panels, allowing it to fly at high speed. the entire construction is conceived to be entirely made with dry carbon fiber.

conceived for a private owner looking for evolution in aviation

 the air yacht is not designed to be used for public transportation or touristic purposes. on he contrary, it is conceived to accommodate a private owner with a vision who looks for evolution in the world of aviation. in the central area of the ship, there is a spacious living room with a dining area, while five suites for the passengers are available on each blimp side and a special shipowner suite is placed on the center with a 360° view.

the particularity of the sky yacht is the possibility to land on the ground or either in the water. while the air yacht is pushed down from the rotation of the engines, it can stand on the water through the depressurization of helium and its ballast anchor system and then sail quietly with a speed of 5 knots .’ hypothetically with € 550.000.000, there will be enough budget to build on-demand a first air yacht (or sky yacht) for a client.’ pierpaolo lazzarini shares.

the flying object can hypothetically reach a maximum speed of 60 knots, for more than 48 hours consequently

project info:

name: air yacht designer: : lazzarini design

designboom has received this project from our ‘ DIY submissions ‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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AirYacht reveals radical 52m airship-yacht crossover concept

Flying yachts, once the stuff of our wildest, most outlandish dreams, are slowly inching closer to a reality. As the industry prepares for the 2022 Superyacht Design Festival , BOAT catches up with  Guillaume Hoddé, co-founder of AirYacht, and Franck Darnet, the yacht's designer, to learn more about an exciting concept that's set to take to the skies in 2026...

Swiss company AirYacht has unveiled a radical new concept that marries the flying power of an airship with the luxury amenities of a superyacht.

Capable of flying between 100 to 3,000 metres above the ground with an autonomous cruising time of around one week, the AirYacht's groundbreaking design is composed of two separate modules: a 200-metre helium-filled airship attached to an ultra-lightweight all-carbon 52-metre superyacht residence.  

The three-storey residence can be landed in its entirety or it can deploy a 12-person elevator to allow guests to disembark for a quick stopover.

Each module has its own complement of crew - the airship will have a crew of three and the residence will have a crew of 12. 

The AirYacht is the brainchild of Guillaume Hoddé and Matthieu Ozanne, who founded the company in 2017 and enlisted the design expertise of Franck Darnet , who most recently worked on the exteriors of 63.8 metre Atomic . Born in Nantes and immersed in the world of Vendée Globe racing boats, Darnet has a masterful knowledge of "weight performance" technology that makes him uniquely suited to the challenges of airborne yachts. 

The residence will have the same layout as a superyacht, with three decks, 750 square metres of indoor space and amenities including a gym, sauna, swimming pool and touch and go helipad.

Accommodation is provided for between ten and 12 guests in a five or six-cabin layout. Terraces, which can be used while the AirYacht is both underway and stationary, flank the starboard and port sides and there is an additional 120 square metre terrace-style lounge on the aft. 

Aerodynamic shape and low weight are crucial to the design of the AirYacht. In order to keep the vessel as lightweight as possible, the residence component won’t be fitted with engines. 

This creates additional space and increased flexibility to tailor the interior layout, while also allowing the residence to be built at AirYachts’ own facility without the need for a shoreside shipyard. When the residence is detached and on water, it will be towed by its tenders. 

The AirYacht aims to give passengers the freedom to roam anywhere in the world, from lakes and seas to deserts and mountains. “On a normal superyacht you have to stay at sea. You can’t cross a hill or a mountain,” said Franck Darnet. “Most of the beautiful things that you see on our planet - some of them are next to the shore [...] but a lot of them are inland.”

In order to conceptualise the residence, Darnet had to rethink various different aspects of design. To this end, the crew quarters are in the forward upper part of the residence - in the section that ‘plugs’ into the airship - in order to give the crew to access the airship module.

The AirYacht also features large sections of glazing in the hull that allows passengers to look down, “because the most spectacular things that exist when you are flying are on the floor,” said Darnet. 

While the AirYacht will be able to fly at dizzying heights of around 3,000 metres, the vessel is designed to cruise at heights of between 100 and 200 metres to allow for crystal-clear views of the world unfolding below. 

The AirYacht will require ‘early adopters’ for it to take off - both literally and figuratively. “This isn’t a new ship, or a new yacht or new plane. This is a completely new thing,” said Guillaume Hoddé, co-founder of AirYacht. ‘New concept, new design. It’s like a dream.”

Currently, the AirYacht is powered by hybrid technology. “In ten years, we hope to have a full hydrogen version,” added Hoddé.

The first AirYacht will be able to achieve top speeds of 50 knots and the first unit is due for completion in 2026.

Guillaume Hoddé will be attending the 2022 Superyacht Design Festival to shed more light on the AirYacht and discuss the future of flying-focused yacht designs. The event will be held in Milan from 22-24 June. Tickets are still available to purchase .

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​​The World’s First “Air Yacht” Would Sail in the Sky and Sea (With Zero Emissions)

Yachts and private planes make for luxurious ways to zip from one place to another, but recently, a businessman based in Germany and Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini discovered what happens when they combine boats and jets: the ultra-sleek sky yacht. Equipped with eight counter-rotating electric engines powered by super-lightweight batteries and solar panels, the nearly 500-foot-long yacht can traverse the sky (and sea) at 60 knots for more than two days straight with zero emissions. Plus, aside from its full-electric mobility, the air yacht is sustainable in other ways too: It will be built entirely from carbon fiber, which is as high-strength as it is lightweight.

The 500-foot futuristic vessel comprises three main parts: a central compartment with a living room and dining area flanked by two inflatable helium blimps that house 10 suites.

Lazzarini’s design looks like something out of the future: a spacious living room and dining area housed within the sky yacht’s central torpedo-shaped structure that’s connected via eight carbon bridges (four on each side) to two 150-foot-long blimps. And the blimps that contain a whopping 14,125,867 cubic feet of helium that keep the vessel high in the sky, flanking the main compartment, aren’t just there to elevate the jet: Between the two, there are 10 guest suites, all of which boast 360-degree views.

The two balloon-like compartments on either side of the impressive vessel comprise an inflatable base that allows the innovative machine to float atop the water surface when the owner is in the mood to sail the sea versus the sky. Though being able to choose which medium makes the most sense for specific destinations sounds like an ideal way to travel, the sky yacht is, unfortunately, still quite a ways off from replacing typical ships and planes. 

The enormous sky yacht is too big to simply park at a marina while its guests climb aboard, so it comes equipped with a retractable staircase.  

For the private owner who commissioned the estimated $627,511,500 sky yacht, however, his new mode of transportation is the way of the future. In fact, Lazzarini has promised that a first-scale model prototype will lift into the air later this year, and a collection of slightly varying designs (of different lengths) is currently in the early phases of both engineering and prototyping. So, perhaps we’ll all be passengers onboard a boat that flies before the end of the decade.

This Flying Luxury Yacht Attached to a Zeppelin Looks Downright Amazing

Do we get to seize these once the revolution starts.

Ever wanted to soar high over the Earth in a yacht attached to a zeppelin? If you're of the "superyacht" class, you may soon get the chance.

Created by Swiss designers Guillaume Hoddé and Matthieu Ozanne, the "AirYacht" combines a 197-foot superyacht, alongside a 656-foot helium blimp to transport the luxury seafaring vessel to any destination of its well-heeled potential clients' choosing.

Like something out of a retrofuturistic scifi flick, this magnificent hybrid craft would not only allow the uber-rich to sail rivers and seas in an elegant three-story vessel that can house 12 people, but also transport the yacht much more easily and with much more aplomb.

The yacht itself — known as "the residence," because who doesn't wanna live on a luxury boat that can also float in the sky? — houses a gym, sauna, and swimming pool per specs from Darnet Design, the French company that conceptualized this masterpiece.

AirYacht: The radical 60m airship yacht that is flying into the future https://t.co/GPxsPYneBW pic.twitter.com/7s2CxjFDhl — VanRompay Erik (@vanrompay) April 15, 2022

Blimped Out

In interviews with the  Robb Report , the designers expounded on the boat's enviable amenities: a Jacuzzi to accompany the pool, as well as a helipad and garage. So not only can one park their cars — yes, they did use the plural — on this fancy boat, but they can also have it flown wherever they like lower it to the ground using an elevator, without ever needing the zeppelin to land.

This gorgeous craft isn't scheduled to come to fruition until 2026, but if you're loaded enough to want to fly your superyacht on a blimp, you can place a preorder now.

READ MORE:  Meet the AirYacht, a Bonkers Superyacht-Blimp Hybrid Concept That Can Cruise Both Sea and Sky [ Robb Report ]

More luxurious floating monstrosities:   Architects Propose Lighter-Than-Air Buildings That Hover Over City Streets

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Inside the new luxury FLYING yacht designed for the air rather than the sea

• Kara Godfrey
• Published : 9:02 ET, Jan 11 2022
• Updated : 16:43 ET, Jan 11 2022
• Published : Invalid Date,

A HIGH-FLYING new luxury yacht designed to FLY rather than sail has been revealed.

The Air-Yacht features all the trappings of a prestige boat, but takes to the sky thanks to two huge blimps.

The two blimps are connected through four carbon bridges on each side to the main central structure.

The length overall of the dry carbon fibre structure is 150 metres, with a width of 80 metres, while the main central deck measures 80 metres in length and 10 metres wide.

A so-called 'inflatable basement' allows the vehicle to float on the surface of water when required.

Passengers can enjoy a central area incorporating a spacious living room with dining area.

There are also five suites for passengers available on each blimp side, with sky window view and a special 'shipowner suite' placed in the centre with a 360° view.

An optional extra allows a helicopter to rest on the structure for flying visits to local destinations.

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The Air-Yacht's twin blimps contain 400,000m3 of compressed helium propelled by eight counter-rotating electric engines.

Powered from ultra-light batteries and solar panels, the craft could fly at a maximum speed of 60 knots for more than 48 hours consequently.

Lazzarini Design Studio explained: "The Air-Yacht is not an airship for public transportation or touristic purposes, it is conceived for a private owner with a vision of mega yacht/aviation evolution."

When a water landing is required, Lazzarini say: "The Air-Yacht is pushed down from the rotation of the engines and can stand in the water through a depressurisation of helium and ballast anchor system.

"It can sail quietly in the water with a speed of five knots."

It isn't the only crazy yacht design - they also created a concept superyacht with a 200ft 'gaping hole' inside it .

And their 'hyperyacht' concept is a tribute to Ferrari, coming in the famous Rosso Corsa red.

We've rounded up some of the other  stunning superyachts in the world .

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A luxury boat that's perfect for high-flyers! 'Mega' 490ft-long superyacht-cum-blimp that is designed to FLY as well as sail is unveiled in futuristic concept

• Concept images have been revealed by Italian firm Lazzarini, which is yet to build the extravagant structure
• It features two massive blimps filled with helium and line with solar panels so it can generate its own power 
• Lucky passengers are transported in a central structure incorporating a spacious living room and dining area  

By Jonathan Chadwick For Mailonline

Published: 11:53 EDT, 11 January 2022 | Updated: 12:15 EDT, 25 January 2023

View comments

An Italian design firm has unveiled its latest luxury yacht – and it's designed to fly as well as sail the world's oceans. 

Called Air Yacht, the extravagant vehicle has been revealed in concept images from Rome-based firm Lazzarini Design Studio.

The dry carbon fibre structure can reach 60 knots thanks to four solar-powered electric propellers and two helium-filled blimps, allowing it to fly, hover and float on the water too. 

Air Yacht stays airborne because its blimps are inflated with a gas that is lighter than air – in this case helium – while it gets momentum from its massive propellers. 

It's unclear how much Air Yacht would cost once it's been built, although the firm says it's designed with private owners in mind, likely those with several hundred million pounds to spare. 

Scroll down for video 

The Air Yacht (pictured here in an artistic concept image) features all the trappings of a prestige boat, but takes to the sky thanks to two huge blimps

The Air Yacht features all the trappings of a prestige boat, but takes to the sky thanks to two huge blimps, which look much like zeppelins 

The overall length of the dry carbon fibre structure would be nearly 300 feet (150 metres), with a width of 260 feet (80 metres), while the main central deck would measure 260 feet in length and 30 feet (10 metres) wide. Passengers' suites go around the concourse of both blimps 

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AIR YACHT SPECS 

Type : Hybrid yacht/blimp

Material : Dry carbon fibre 

Power : Solar 

Speed : 60 knots (nearly 70mph) 

Designer : Lazzarini Design Studio 

The overall length of the dry carbon fibre structure would be nearly 300 feet (150 metres), with a width of 260 feet (80 metres), while the main central deck would measure 260 feet in length and 30 feet (10 metres) wide. 

Air Yacht's twin blimps contain 400,000m3 of compressed helium propelled by eight counter rotating engines, each powered by ultra-light batteries and solar panels.

According to Lazzarini, the craft could fly at a maximum speed of 60 knots – nearly 70 miles per hour – for more than 48 hours. 

'The Air Yacht is not an airship for public transportation or touristic purposes,' says Lazzarini Design Studio, which has posted the new renderings on its  Instagram page . 

'It is conceived for a private owner with a vision of mega yacht/aviation evolution.'  

Air Yacht takes to the sky thanks to two huge blimps, both of which feature central compartments inaccessible to passengers that contain the helium. 

Circling around the helium compartments within the blimps are concourses and private suites containing beds and washing facilities, so that passengers can spend multiple days on Air Yacht during long voyages. 

There are five suites for passengers available on each blimp side with impressive sky window views.  

There's even a wide, windowless viewing platform at the back of each blimp, which lets passengers see the waves splashing beneath them when on water, or alternatively get some fresh air at 5,000 feet when airborne.

The back of the blimps (pictured) have windowless viewing platforms, letting passengers see the waves splashing beneath them, or get some fresh air at 5,000 feet

Lazzarini Design Studio's Air Yacht features all the trappings of a prestige boat, but takes to the sky thanks to its two huge blimps

Both blimps are connected to a central compartment by four carbon bridges, through which passengers can walk.    

This central compartment acts as a communal space for passengers to gather, relax and eat meals.

It provides a luxury viewing area for the passengers, featuring a swimming pool, carpeted lounge and a spacious living room with dining facilities. 

The central structure (pictured) contains a swimming pool, carpeted lounge and a spacious living room complete with a dining area

The living area has ample space for lounging with a magazine and a glass of champagne, while the dining area lets passengers enjoy a meal with the skies as their view

Another view inside the central compartment of Air Yacht, which acts as a communal space for passengers to gather, relax and eat meals

The elaborate vehicle consists of two blimps, each featuring propellers on one side and connections to four carbon bridges to a central structure on the other side

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At the bottom of each of the two blimps are so-called 'inflatable basements' that fill up with air when approaching water, allowing the vehicle to float when required. 

Lazzarini says: 'The Air-Yacht is pushed down from the rotation of the engines and can stand in the water through a depressurisation of helium and ballast anchor system. It can sail quietly in the water with a speed of five knots.'

An optional extra allows a helicopter to rest on top of the structure for flying visits to local destinations. 

Underside of the vehicle and its two helium-filled blimps, which have 'inflatable basements' that fill up with air for sailing on water

Air Yacht can reach 60 knots with its electric engines and two blimps, allowing it to fly, hover metres about the water and float too

Air Yacht is not an airship for public transportation or touristic purposes; rather, it is conceived for a private owner, according to the design firm

MailOnline has contacted Lazzarini Design Studio regarding how much it would cost to build the Air Yacht, pictured here on water

The overall length of Lazzarini's dry carbon fibre structure is 492 feet (150 metres), with a width of 260 feet

Lazzarini is frequently unveiling lavish concepts without actually building them, so it's possible that Air Yacht may prove too expensive to ever become a reality.

MailOnline has contacted the firm for comment regarding how much it might take to build, and whether it's had any interest from any so-called 'private owners'.        

Just last week, Lazzarini unveiled concept images for a  £7.5 million red hyperyacht that can carry a Ferrari.

The firm is also responsible for a swan-shaped superyacht , a £450 million shark-inspired mega-yacht , and a sleek yacht with a gaping hole in the middle . 

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Share or comment on this article: 'Mega air yacht' with helium-filled blimps is designed to FLY

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These New Luxury Blimps Hope to Become the Superyachts of the Skies

Zeppelins are usually equated with the hindenburg disaster, but today's airships use modern materials and some aspire to be as luxurious as superyachts., jemima sissons, jemima sissons's most recent stories.

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Less than a century ago, the airship was the symbol of elegant travel, gliding silently across the skies. The explosion of the Hindenburg changed the fate of airships in an instant, giving them the reputation of floating bombs.

A number of companies in the U.S. and Europe are trying to stage a comeback for these floating giants, marketing them not only as an antidote to loud, emissions-spewing jets, but also as a much more civilized way to travel.

The Airship 2.0 is certainly a different beast from the zeppelin of 100 years ago. The latest generation relies on non-combustible helium, and bulletproof materials that like vectran, mylar and kevlar to make the balloon both lightweight and durable.

The Airlander 10, which is ready for production, promises a much more civilized way to travel by air than jets.  Hybrid Air Vehicles

Companies like Flying Whale in France and U.S.-based Skunk Works, the research arm of Lockheed Martin, are designing airships to carry cargo and medical supplies to remote locations around the world. Skunk Works says its airships could be used as passenger carriers if buyers want to modify them after purchasing the design.

California-based Aeroscraft has a 220-ft. airship in production that uses solar power for propulsion. The company says it can be used for jaunts, such as trips between Hawaiian islands. Aeroscraft forecasts that it will be another three to five years before its airship receives FAA certification for passenger travel.

The company has also been working on concepts like the Neona, a futuristic, donut-shaped flying saucer. More UFO than floating superyacht , the company did not give a timeline for when Neona might go into production.

California-based Aeroscraft makes a traditional-looking airship, but is also working on the flying-saucer-shaped Neona as a personal sky yacht.  Aeroscraft

A U.K. company is leading the charge for creating airships that will undertake passenger journeys, much like a cruise ship or yacht. Hybrid Air Vehicles said its floating goliaths will offer private passenger travel beginning in 2024. These full-featured airships will have lounges, master suites, offices and spas. The company says it will also offer sushi counters or in-room refrigerators for long-distance cruises.

HAV has launched a full-scale prototype of its Airlander 10 and has a much larger airship, the Airlander 60, for transporting cargo. The Airlander 10 has a base price of $50 million, while models with full specs cost an additional $10 to $20 million. The company says it has 15 letters of intent for the airships, though it has yet to sign any private individuals. Luxury travel groups plan to use them for safaris, hopping from one camp to the next, or another operator wants to fly the airships from Svalbard, Norway, and land near the North Pole.

Since  airships   don’t need runways, they are perfect for out-of-the-way destinations or hopping between private islands. These levitating leviathans can reach 300 feet in length, with cabin space of about 150 feet. They’re much slower than airplanes, though they still cruise at about 80 mph.

Flying Whale plans to use its airships to ferry cargo and medical supplies into remote regions.  Flying Whale

“Our ability to operate without runways means that we can fly point-to-point,” company spokesperson Rebecca Zeitlin told Robb Report . “That means that someone with an estate outside London and a chateau in the French countryside can make a much more direct journey than London to Paris.”

The  airships   are delivered with helium and are topped up every year as part of the regular maintenance schedule. “They’re rather like a superyacht, with the same level of luxury inside,” says Zeitlin .  “We like to think of it as a fast yacht rather than a slow aircraft .”

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Russian stuff blowing up: Moscow yacht club goes up in flames

Big ammo dump bavovna

🔥 Explosion of a russian ammunition depot. Pokrovsk direction. pic.twitter.com/Oc9BaqcsHD — ✙ Albina Fella ✙ 🇺🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪🇵🇱🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇺 (@albafella1) June 22, 2024

Smoke on the water, the fire in the sky.

Yachts go up in smoke. Could be sabotage or could be insurance fraud or could be another careless smoker.

“ARSON in a yacht club near Moscow. More than a dozen yachts and boats burned downs.” – Baza 👉 Russian ships are racing to join the Moskva. pic.twitter.com/VeErNGzT6s — Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) June 21, 2024

Sucks when you can’t even get a moped through with a six-pack of water.

The whole road is about 15 km and you can take dozens of similar photos on it. Thanks to the successful operation of drones, Russians are sitting in tree lines and  forests with a minimum of ammunition, food and water. There were cases when we destroyed a moped with which Russians tried to bring a pack of 6 bottles of water to the position.”

Bukhanka graveyard on the Kharkiv front: “The cutting of Russian logistical routes is probably one of the key reasons why Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region got bogged down. In one photo there are 5 burnt Bukhankas. The whole road is about 15 km and you can take dozens of… pic.twitter.com/j1xeg4tOhr — Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 22, 2024

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

🔞 Kadyrovite beats Kadyrovite. Education in the ruzzian army. pic.twitter.com/Z43RJsd2c2 — ✙ Albina Fella ✙ 🇺🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪🇵🇱🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇺 (@albafella1) June 22, 2024

Speaking of declining morale.

According to "The Northern Channel", Russian military police have been detached to the northern Kharkiv front to suppress defections and that the highest risk of deserters is in the area of #Hyboke north of #Lyptsi where the AFU is making gains. "The military police arrived… pic.twitter.com/iiP6n69EyJ — OSINT (Uri Kikaski) 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) June 18, 2024

Russia continues to round up migrants workers for cannon fodder duty in Ukraine.

Barnaul is in Siberia south of Novosibirsk.

Russia: FSB conducted a massive raid, lining up over 200 people outside night clubs and bars in Barnaul, near Novosibirsk. Some were severely beaten and gunshots were also heard. pic.twitter.com/GnCigcBE8S — Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 22, 2024

45 migrants were forced at gunpoint to sit under the scorching sun This is how Russian law enforcers conducted another raid on migrants at a construction site in Voronezh. Those who are found to have a Russian passport are often taken to the military recruitment center. pic.twitter.com/vIDBiSWGRH — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 22, 2024

It’s basically an armored taxi.

In this video a Ukrainian soldier breaks down why this T-62 is a pile of shit.

The Ukrainian Army released an extensive video of the infamous Russian turtle tanks. They are far worse than expected. Underneath that garbage is an old T-62M. The gun is not operational, there is no ammunition and the turret is locked in place. The panels are sheet metal… pic.twitter.com/s33mm5zg5w — (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) June 22, 2024

Another 1,110 Russian soldiers.

Russian losses per 22/06/24 reported by the Ukrainian general staff +1110 men +8 tanks +11 APVs +28 artillery pieces +15 UAVs +4 cruise missiles pic.twitter.com/5Ul2ZRCfB0 — NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 22, 2024

At least 4 285 Russian officers have been eliminated in Ukraine, +27 since last update. Minimum losses since 24 February 2022. Each name is confirmed by a Russian source via funeral notices, obituaries, graves, news platforms, monuments and memorial plaques. pic.twitter.com/KDBMXg72CZ — KIU ✪ Russian Officers killed in Ukraine 🇨🇿🇺🇦 (@KilledInUkraine) June 22, 2024

It reminds me of the old German V1 rocket

Breaking: Nikolayevsky Vanekreported reported on his TG Channel that the AFU has recovered remnants of an Iranian Atash-1/2 jet-powered OWUAV which was shot down and crash-landed near the town of #Ochakiv , Mykolaiv Oblast. The Atash drones are jet powered and appear to be cruise… pic.twitter.com/pk86jtAGin — OSINT (Uri Kikaski) 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) June 22, 2024

Russians continue to shell Kharkiv.

The Russians dropped 4 x FAB UMPC's on the center of Kharkiv earlier today. Currently, there are 2 dead and 23 injured but the debris are still being cleared to search for more victims. #OSINT #UkraineWar #UkraineKrieg #Ukraine #Russia #NAFO REPOST APPRECIATED!!! pic.twitter.com/TjhXf2BNnu — OSINT (Uri Kikaski) 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) June 22, 2024

The moment of the guided aerial bomb hit in Kharkiv The number of wounded has increased to 37. https://t.co/CTXKu85FC3 pic.twitter.com/1lduAfIJ3S — Maria Drutska 🇺🇦 (@maria_drutska) June 22, 2024

No, no, no. We weren’t trying to hit the residential building. We were trying to hit the hospital.

Russian propagandists now claim their target in Kharkiv was not a residential building but a police hospital. Their open admission of calls for war crimes is truly outrageous. Watch this and imagine it’s your Saturday afternoon pic.twitter.com/tP2BLSUoT8 — Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 22, 2024

Well, what can ya do? You can’t hide in your basement 24/7.

Residents of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv shock with their calmness People continue to relax by the pool while explosions are heard on the horizon. A residential apartment building was damaged as a result of the attack. 18 people were injured, 2 dead. pic.twitter.com/NjgwsCbIGz — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 22, 2024

Russia not only commits war crimes like bombing a school, they posted video about it.

Russian sources are posting a video of what they describe as the "second use" of a FAB-3000 M-54 S UMPC in the #Liptsy area. Geolocation: 50.193348, 36.436196 The structure is the Slobozhanskaya School which is closed as civilians have been evacuated from the entire area. The… pic.twitter.com/2GUgssOi5I — OSINT (Uri Kikaski) 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) June 21, 2024

This attack is in Ivano-Frankivsk, which is southeast of Lviv in western Ukraine.

The aftermath of the night attack on Ivano-Frankivsk Oil and Gas University In addition, 14 buildings, a lyceum, a kindergarten were damaged in the city. pic.twitter.com/Iz5WRyGRxZ — Maria Drutska 🇺🇦 (@maria_drutska) June 22, 2024

In  this video  a Russian soldier is wounded by an FPV drone. While he is lying in the road and his comrade walks up to him, he motions to his head. His comrade then finishes him off with a shot to the head.

Life is brutal in the Russian Army.

You can believe that this is the result of climate change if you like, but clearly this is the wrath of God at work. Expect to see locust swarms and frogs next.

🌪️ Russia: Tornadoes in Moscow injured over 40 people. Experts say the frequency and intensity of the phenomenon is increasing due to climate change. pic.twitter.com/KjpDe2Qd8t — Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) June 21, 2024

Lukashenko says being president of Belarus is “fiddle-faddle” and that he dreams of milking cows.

Lukashenko told how he milks cows in his dreams. Also, during a visit to a dairy complex, he said the best job is in agriculture, and the presidency is fiddle-faddle. pic.twitter.com/AwpScZES7F — Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 22, 2024

This is why Ukraine will eventually win.

A Russian drone was taken out by Ukrainian EW, local people grabbed it and repaired it and sent it to the ukrainian army. Hah. pic.twitter.com/CRN6SgE3Vy — Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) June 22, 2024

Rest in peace.

💔 In Kherson region, our colleague Oleksandr Chekhun was killed in an enemy attack while on duty at a checkpoint As a result of a Russian drone attack, an inspector of the patrol police response sector of the Kherson Police Department No. 1, a senior police lieutenant, was… pic.twitter.com/GTX7nTxG7a — Andrew Perpetua (@AndrewPerpetua) June 22, 2024

No peppers? No green beans?

Because they are #Ukrainians ❗️😜🤣 The Ukrainian military man showed his trenches, where onions, cucumbers, dill , tomatoes are planted evenly and neatly... This nation cannot be defeated❗️☝️ pic.twitter.com/aeLupjZMbu — Olena_Wave🇺🇦 (@OlenaWave) June 22, 2024

Life goes on in Kyiv.

One more video from the festival in Kyiv for you. To tell you the truth, I meant to walk in the botanical garden and enjoy the nature. But it was a festival there 🙈 oops. Perhaps you will ask why the girls put the ribbons on the tree. I don’t know. Maybe it is some tradition… pic.twitter.com/tMaoP68LGa — Yaroslava Antipina (@strategywoman) June 22, 2024

Soledar needs a new home.

Meet Soledar, a cat who lost his home in the bombed city he’snamed after. Now he lives at a military strongpoint, nestled btwn tires, with 80th Brigade soldiers as family. Stressed by constant shelling, he needs evacuation from frontline. This war cat seeks a peaceful home. pic.twitter.com/ddyMNLyIRj — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 22, 2024

Man’s best friend and his backup vocals.

Peaceful night to all good people 😴💤 And let Russia burn. pic.twitter.com/Vy9PCw1QJU — 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐎𝐌𝐒𝐀 | 🇪🇺🇫🇷🇵🇱🇺🇦 (@tweetforAnna) June 21, 2024

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Taking war into the skies: The age of the airship

The Leppich’s hot air ballon test. Source: UllsteinBild / Vostock_photo

In the summer of 1812, an extraordinary construction appeared by Moscow. On the Vorontsovo estate, seven kilometers from the city, German engineer Franz Leppich led round-the-clock work on the creation of an unprecedented aircraft. Warfare was about to get airborne.

Sewn from thick fabric, Leppich’s huge inflatable oval was attached to a 20-meter wooden platform. Forty rowers were to use giant paddles to power the craft, which had gun mounts around its perimeter and compartments for fuse bombs.

The early blimp was meant to help the Russian Army halt Napoleon's invading forces, but it was plagued with problems. Above all, the material leaked and the paddles constantly broke. By the time the Russians finally turned and fought a bloody and inconclusive engagement with the invaders at the Battle of Borodino the device was still not ready and it was ultimately dismantled, its wooden platform burned and its designer disgraced.

Hell’s devils: How Russia’s steppe warriors took on Napoleon’s armies

And so the story of Russian military aeronautics began with a failure. But Leppich’s work was not forgotten. Throughout the 19 th century there were attempts in Russia to create an aircraft lighter than air for military use.

The airship’s chance came again in 1854 when British warships blockaded the ​​imperial capital St. Petersburg from the sea, preventing the weak Russian fleet from breaking out.

Army Lieutenant Ivan Mantsev proposed a simple and bold counter-measure, entailing the construction of several dozen airships which the wind would carry out to sea, allowing the crews to drop incendiary bombs on the wooden British ships. But time was against the plan and it was dropped.

Until the early 20 th century, it was generally only isolated enthusiasts who still tinkered with airship design. The original idea of attacking the enemy from the air was not embraced by the Tsarist army, although in 1887 the idea was also taken up by the future father of Russian cosmonautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935), Russian rocket scientist, pioneer of astronautic theory, at work. Source: ITAR-TASS

Even by today’s standards his airship design was ambitious: 200 meters long, it would be propelled at 25 mph by eight steam engines and would carry 200 people and 14 tons of cargo.

In 1898 engineer Konstantin Danilyevsky also built several pedal-powered airship models. But none of these projects got further than the drawing board.

After the turn of the century the Russian General Staff decided instead to stake its future on the development of planes and helicopters, which given the existing industrial base was a more complex and expensive option.

Consequently, when the Tsar’s forces desperately needed intelligence and air support in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, repeated requests to St. Petersburg for airships went unanswered. After the war, though, the government purchased models from abroad while gradually building up its own construction capacity.

During the First World War, Russia built two airships, including the world's largest, the “Air Cruiser", which was 150 meters long and could fly at 50 mph. Including foreign-built models, the Russian Army deployed seven airships from 1914-1917, providing invaluable support to troops on the ground.

During the First World War, Russia built two airships, including the world's largest, the “Air Cruiser". Source: UllsteinBild / Vostock_photo

Having a greater range than planes and surpassing their load capacity, airships were widely used for reconnaissance and bombing. In the summer of 1915, Russian airships based in Brest-Litovsk carried out daily bombing raids on concentrations of enemy troops and railroad yards. The German command sent squadrons of fighter planes against them without any success.

The Yak-130: The Russian Army’s ‘flying iPhone’

Meanwhile, airships were also highly effective in determining weak points in the front lines, and in some cases even scattered special anti-cavalry spikes over large areas.

In the Soviet period, interest in airships tailed off. While they enjoyed a boom in the 1920s and 1930s, they were almost entirely supplanted by planes in the Second World War.

They were still irreplaceable in some tasks, however, like demining seaways and locating sunken ships and submarines. Three Soviet airships proved so successful in the latter task in the Bay of Sevastopol that the Black Sea Fleet command appealed to Moscow to send several more.

Although the era of the military airship finally came to an end after the war, the craft does not appear to have been consigned to the history books just yet, antiquated as it might now seem.

In 2013, the 55-meter-long AU-30 blimp built by the Russian company Augur RosAeroSystems took flight in the Vladimir Region. With a larger model capable of carrying 16 tons of cargo reportedly under development, the airship may yet re-emerge as a cheaper variant than helicopters and planes in such tasks as aerial photography and technical monitoring in the oil and gas industry.

An AU-30 zeppelin during a flight over the city of Kirzhach. Source: ITAR-TASS

The Russian military and border guards are also said to be interested in the potential use of airships to haul equipment over large distances and to monitor stretches of border that are vulnerable to drug trafficking.

Even if these plans come to nothing and a line is finally drawn under the age of the airship, the craft represented a vital progression in the history of Russia’s air power.

Alexander Vershinin is an historian and holds a Ph.D in History. He is a senior researcher at the Governance and Problem Analysis Center in Moscow.

Read more: Modern zeppelins may help develop Russia’s regions>>>

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Ukraine war: Russian billionaire's yacht detained by authorities in Gibraltar

The West has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, prompting an exodus of luxury yachts from Europe.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Tuesday 22 March 2022 16:38, UK

Authorities in Gibraltar have seized a superyacht linked to the owner of Russia's biggest steel pipe manufacturer.

Footage showed the Axioma, believed to belong to Dmitrievich Pumpyansky, owner of steel group TMK, moored at Gibraltar and flying a Maltese flag.

The West has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, sparking an exodus of luxury yachts from Europe .

Steel group owner linked to superyacht

Refinitiv data shows the 72m vessel is owned by a British Virgin Islands holding company called Pyrene investments, with an article published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists as part of the Panama Papers naming Mr Pumpyansky as a beneficiary of the holding.

Forbes and specialist publication Superyacht Fan also list him as the owner of the Axioma.

The Gibraltar government said the Axioma arrived in port after asking permission to enter and "was confirmed to be the subject of an arrest action by a leading international bank in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar".

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"The vessel is now subject to arrest by the Admiralty Marshal until further order," it said.

Refinitiv shipping data showed the Axioma left the Caribbean island of Antigua on 27 February and spent the last three weeks crossing the Atlantic before reaching Gibraltar.

Two superyachts linked to Abramovich dock in Turkey

Also on Tuesday a superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich docked in the Turkish tourist resort of Marmaris, a day after another of his yachts arrived in Bodrum.

Protesters in a small inflatable dinghy waved Ukrainian flags with the words "No War" on them as they attempted to block the Solaris as it docked in Bodrum.

It was not known if Mr Abramovich was aboard the yacht or if it was moved to Turkey to avoid sanctions.

Last week Mr Abramovich travelled from Jerusalem to Turkey aboard his private jet before departing for Moscow the next morning.

Claims superyacht in Italy belongs to Putin

Meanwhile, allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was found guilty of additional fraud charges in Russia on Tuesday, have claimed a yacht docked in Italy belongs to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Italian police are currently investigating the 140m Scheherazade for ties to sanctioned Russians, but Mr Navalny's team reported that nearly half of its Russian crew members were employed by Russia's Federal Protective Service, the FSO, which provides personal security for Mr Putin.

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