An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a payload rack linked to said payload connector.ġ6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, said payload connector comprising a tri-plate connector.ġ5. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, said payload connector comprising a tri-plate connector.ġ4. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, said payload connector being at an end of said tether cable distal from said end of said payload tether cable linked to said slip ring.ġ3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a plurality of confluence lines attached to said buoyant lift vehicle and a slip ring, said confluence lines and an end of said tether cable being linked to said slip ring.ġ2. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, said drag coefficient being less than about 0.20.ġ1. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, said aerostat having a substantially constant drag coefficient under predetermined transport conditions.ġ0. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, said aerostat comprising a non-rigid lighter than air vehicle.ĩ. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said buoyant lift vehicle comprising an aerostat.Ĩ. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said payload connector being connectable to a payload.ħ. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, said ends comprising an end of said tether cable distal from said buoyant lift vehicle and an end of said tow cable distal from said first end thereof.Ħ. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said payload connector linking ends of said tether cable and said tow cable.ĥ. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector linking said tether cable and said tow cable.Ĥ. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said tow cable having a tow vehicle connector at said first end.ģ. A payload transport system comprising: a tow cable connectable at a first end to a towing vehicle a buoyant lift vehicle comprising an inflatable member a tether cable linked to said buoyant lift vehicle and having a connection with said tow cable and a payload connector linked to at least one of said payload tether cable and said tow cable.Ģ. It can be forecasted, that with time, with higher confidence in airship operations and wider scope of their applications, airships could take over of some of the airborne cargo market as well, due to their obvious advantages.1. Airships appearance on the cargo market is aimed on specific niche that it is not optimally served with current transportation means. Market Need Growing world population, its expansion and inevitable search for new resources locations, are the drivers for constantly growing airborne cargo traffic, as can be seen trough the history. Most of them were related to LTA military applications, in form of tethered aerostats, but as the concepts advanced and technologies matured, the idea of modern civil airship for cargo missions was forming to become reality.
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Only in the last decades of the 20th century, some LTA vehicles based activities have been resumed. On the other hand, advancing development of aircraft, along with non-stable political situation and several notorious airship disasters (Hindenburg disaster in 1937 was the most famous one), gradually made airships obsolete and diminished their glory. Zeppelins, in their various versions, were powered, rigid, hydrogen filled airships that carried cargo and passengers for varying distances in relative comfort and safety (compared to fixed wing aircraft of these days). Not until the early years of the 20th century that such combination appeared, in form of the well known Zeppelin (called by the name of its inventor). With time, hot air balloons became more popular and sophisticated, but the need for powered, controllable air vehicle became clearly needed.
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Introduction Lighter-than-air (LTA) era began with the flight of a hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783.
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Several leading aerospace companies, along with few airship start-ups, have shown interest in possible applications of current era technologies for materialization of the concept, driven with continuously rising cargo conveying market. Airport, 70100, Israel Giant Zeppelins, the masters of the skies of the early 20 th century, are going through renaissance, in its renewed form and role of hybrid cargo airships. Tsach † Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Ben Gurion Intl.