The expedition preparations are progressing, the airship is under construction, and the first of the series flies every week in varying weather conditions particular to the Moscow area.
On 23rd and 24th January, Jean-Louis ETIENNE and his team travelled to Moscow to meet the builders of the expedition's airship, as well as to see for the first time the prototype of this new series in flight.
Many meetings, mainly technical in nature, took place, in the presence of engineers and test pilots, in order to adapt our airship to its mission in the Arctic.
The prototype flight took place over snowy terrain, in sunny and cold (-18°C) conditions. Seeing for the first time this giant white aircraft made a big impression on us, one that will be often renewed.
Continuing its test flights, the airship carried out a series of tests and manoeuvres in cold weather, whose results largely satisfied both Russian and French specialists, particularly concerning the manoeuvrability of the craft.
In the same way that the high level of performance in sailing regattas requires minute preparation of the yachts, the participation of a craft like the airship in a trans-Arctic expedition demands rigorous control of its construction and flight tests, and needs to benefit from experience acquired on the prototype.
This is why we will be visiting the manufacturer every month, in its workshops in the heart of Moscow and on the flight test base.
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Visit of a construction facility
© Ghislain Bardout |
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The airship ready for takeoff
© Ghislain Bardout |
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The airship during its flight tests
© Ghislain Bardout |
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