Hybrid Aircraft For Heavy Lift

Aerodynamically supported vehicles suffer reduced payload/gross weight ratios as their sizes increase due to the cube/square law which states that “the lifting ability increases with the square of some basic length dimensions while the structural weight increases with the cube of that same dimension.” The result is a structural weight which grows to be a larger percentage of the total weight leaving less and less percentage of weight for payload or fuel. Statically supported devices do not suffer from this problem as is evident by the early success in constructing large buildings, large ships and large dirigibles. Aerostatically supported devices (zeppelins, blimps, etc.) of quite formidable dimensions, even by today’s standards as defined by the 747 and C5A airplanes, were operational in the 1910-1935 period when a 20,000 pound airplane was considered “large”. Whereas we have attained airplane payloads suitable for most of our desires, the same cannot be said about helicopters whose payload capabilities lag far behind the needs represented by many useful purposes. By combining lighter-than-air (LTA) elements with helicopter elements in a hybrid configuration, it is possible to provide a highly maneuverable, heavy lift crane of almost unlimited payload capacity. The availability of such a tool to the construction, logging, mining, and transport industries would result in the development of entirely new techniques and introduce economies impossible to attain with present methods.