Helium is the nonflammable gas of choice for airship transport. PLIMP envelopes are constructed from Tedlar® (polyvinyl fluoride) material, which is puncture resistant and resilient to UV rays and inclement weather. The envelope is stiff enough to maintain its shape at high speeds.
Its design merges aspects of the four main existing aircraft classes: airplanes, helicopters, blimps, and drones. It shares the performance capabilities of all four and formidably compares to a helicopter, as it features vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) as well as purposeful autorotation and hovering ability. In addition, the PLIMP Airship incorporates safety features not commonly found in drones, such as a safe engine-out descent speed and caged propellers.
Current projections are that it is limited to a 500-foot vertical altitude. We believe some of the best market applications are at low altitudes.
We envision it at this point being primarily used for advertising, but it can also potentially be used for many other applications. These include real estate, pipeline surveys, agriculture, close surveillance, and search and rescue.