Inside a Tech Billionaire’s Secret Airship Plan

Bloomberg Originals
25 May 202307:22

TLDRIn this intriguing narrative, Alan Weston, CEO of LTA, reveals the development of Pathfinder One, a modern airship funded by Sergey Brin. The 122-meter-long vessel, designed for humanitarian relief and reducing aviation's carbon footprint, combines historical airship design with cutting-edge technology. With a carbon fiber skeleton and electric motors, Pathfinder One aims to revolutionize air travel and disaster response, carrying significant cargo over long distances. Despite challenges and a niche market, the project's ambition is to bring back the grandeur of airships, this time with environmentally friendly helium and a potential future switch to solar or hydrogen power.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Sergey Brin is funding the construction of a secret airship at NASA Ames in Mountain View.
  • 🛰️ The airship, named Pathfinder One, is 122 meters long and has 28 tons of lift.
  • 🌬️ It is designed to cruise at a maximum speed of 60 knots and potentially travel over 2000 nautical miles.
  • 🌍 The mission is to enhance humanitarian relief efforts using lighter than air technology and reduce aviation's carbon footprint.
  • 📸 Alan Weston, CEO of LTA, is the first person to work on the project and is giving a tour of the airship's construction.
  • 🏗️ The airship's construction site has a rich history, with the Navy building airships there almost a century ago.
  • 🔋 The airship features 12 electric motors, allowing it to function like a giant quadcopter with thrust vectoring.
  • 🌅 The outer material is inspired by racing sailboats, and the lacing is done by hand, with 40,000 individual laces.
  • 🚀 The Pathfinder One's skeleton is made of carbon fiber, making it lighter and stronger than previous airships.
  • 🌞 The airship initially runs on diesel but aims to switch to renewable energy sources like solar or hydrogen power in the future.
  • 🛠️ The airship is an experimental vehicle, not intended for public use, and is designed for disaster relief and cargo transport.

Q & A

  • What was Sergey Brin's involvement in the airship project?

    -Sergey Brin was funding the construction of a secret airship at NASA Ames in Mountain View.

  • Who is Alan Weston and what is his role in the project?

    -Alan Weston is the CEO of LTA and the first person to work on the airship project.

  • What is the name and size of the airship being constructed?

    -The airship is named Pathfinder One and is 122 meters long.

  • What is the maximum speed and range of Pathfinder One?

    -Pathfinder One is designed to cruise at a maximum speed of 60 knots and could potentially travel over 2000 nautical miles in one leg.

  • What is the primary mission of Pathfinder One?

    -Its mission is to expand and complement existing humanitarian relief efforts using lighter than air technology while reducing the carbon footprint of aviation.

  • How does the construction of Pathfinder One relate to the history of airships?

    -The hangar where Pathfinder One is being built once housed the construction of some of the first airships made by the Navy almost 100 years ago.

  • What are the key differences between a blimp and a rigid airship like Pathfinder One?

    -A blimp lacks a rigid structure, while a rigid airship like Pathfinder One has a skeleton that defines its shape.

  • What type of fuel does Pathfinder One use and what are the plans for future energy sources?

    -Pathfinder One initially runs on diesel, but LTA hopes to switch to solar or hydrogen power in the future.

  • How does the airship's propulsion system work?

    -The airship has 12 electric motors mounted on pylons that can rotate, allowing the ship to be maneuvered like a giant quadcopter.

  • What is the significance of the lacing on the outer material of the airship?

    -The lacing is inspired by racing sailboats and is done by hand, with each of the 40,000 laces being individually laced.

  • What is the purpose of the gondola in the airship?

    -The gondola is designed to seat about ten people and is used commercially for sightseeing, though the airship is primarily an experimental vehicle.

  • How does the airship address challenges in disaster relief scenarios?

    -The airship can deliver supplies to disaster sites where infrastructure may be damaged, offering an alternative to helicopters, which are expensive and have limited range and lifting capacity.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Revival of Airships: Pathfinder One's Journey

The script introduces the secret airship project funded by Sergey Brin at NASA Ames, with Alan Weston, CEO of LTA, leading the project. The airship, named Pathfinder One, is 122 meters long, has 28 tons of lift, and is designed for 60-knot cruising speeds and over 2000 nautical miles range. Its mission is to enhance humanitarian relief using lighter than air technology while reducing aviation's carbon footprint. The airship's construction combines historical methods with modern innovations, such as electric motors, carbon fiber skeletons, and potential future use of solar or hydrogen power. The airship's potential applications include cargo transport, disaster relief, and sightseeing, with the company aiming for larger, more capable airships in the future.

05:00

🛰️ Future Airship Travel and Disaster Response

This paragraph discusses the commercial use of airships for sightseeing and the potential for airships in disaster response scenarios. It highlights the challenges of reaching disaster sites when infrastructure is damaged and the limitations of helicopters. The airship's ability to carry significant cargo is emphasized, with the company's ambition to build larger airships capable of carrying up to 200 tons. The script also touches on the potential market for slow, weather-dependent airship travel and the company's optimism for the future of airship technology, despite the challenges ahead.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin is a co-founder of Google and a significant figure in the technology industry. In the context of the video, he is funding the construction of a secret airship, which is the central focus of the narrative. His involvement suggests a high-profile project with potential technological innovation.

💡Pathfinder One

Pathfinder One is the name of the airship being constructed in the video. It represents a modern attempt to revive the use of airships for humanitarian relief and to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. The name implies a pioneering role in the field of lighter-than-air transportation.

💡Lighter Than Air (LTA)

LTA refers to the technology and concept of airships or balloons that are filled with a gas lighter than air, such as helium, to achieve lift. In the video, LTA is the company behind the construction of Pathfinder One, aiming to expand humanitarian relief efforts and promote environmentally friendly aviation.

💡Carbon Footprint

Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities. The video emphasizes the mission of LTA to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation by developing airships that use cleaner energy sources like solar or hydrogen power.

💡Humanitarian Relief

Humanitarian relief is the assistance provided to people affected by natural disasters, conflicts, or other emergencies. The video discusses the potential of Pathfinder One to deliver aid in disaster scenarios, highlighting the airship's ability to transport large amounts of cargo to areas where infrastructure may be damaged.

💡Rigid Airship

A rigid airship is a type of lighter-than-air craft that has a structural framework, or skeleton, which defines its shape. This is in contrast to non-rigid airships, or blimps, which do not have such a framework. Pathfinder One is described as a rigid airship, which suggests a more stable and efficient design compared to traditional blimps.

💡Electric Motors

Electric motors are devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. In the context of the video, electric motors are used to propel Pathfinder One, contributing to its innovative design as a modern airship. The motors' ability to rotate allows for vectored thrust, enabling the airship to maneuver like a giant quadcopter.

💡Sailboats

Sailboats are boats that use sails to harness wind power for propulsion. The video mentions that the outer material of Pathfinder One is leveraged from racing sailboats, indicating a unique and efficient design that may improve the airship's aerodynamics and performance.

💡Cargo Capacity

Cargo capacity refers to the maximum amount of goods or materials that a vehicle can carry. The video discusses the potential for airships to carry significant amounts of cargo, up to 200 tons, which is a key advantage in disaster relief scenarios where traditional transportation methods may be unavailable or insufficient.

💡Gondola

A gondola is a type of small boat or the passenger compartment of an airship. In the video, the gondola of Pathfinder One is described as being designed to seat about ten people, similar to those used by the Zeppelin company for commercial sightseeing. This detail provides insight into the potential commercial applications of the airship beyond humanitarian efforts.

💡Disaster Scenarios

Disaster scenarios refer to situations where natural or man-made events cause widespread damage and require emergency response. The video highlights the airship's potential role in such scenarios, where it could deliver supplies to areas inaccessible by traditional means, showcasing the versatility and utility of the airship design.

Highlights

Sergey Brin is funding the construction of a secret airship at NASA Ames in Mountain View.

The airship, named Pathfinder One, is 122 meters long and has 28 tons of total lift.

Pathfinder One is designed to cruise at a maximum speed of 60 knots and cover over 2000 nautical miles in one leg.

The mission is to use lighter than air technology for humanitarian relief and reduce aviation's carbon footprint.

The airship hangar has a history of housing early airships, including those used for intelligence and reconnaissance by the Navy.

Airships were once filled with the sky in Silicon Valley, performing amazing feats like carrying biplanes.

The glory days of airships ended in 1939, and they were replaced by planes due to bad PR and interest loss.

The difference between airships and blimps is that airships have a rigid structure, while blimps do not.

Pathfinder One is a rigid airship filled with non-flammable helium, a modern twist on traditional airships.

The airship features 12 electric motors that can rotate, allowing it to function like a giant quadcopter.

The outer material of the airship is inspired by racing sailboats, with 40,000 lacing points, each hand-laced.

The skeleton of Pathfinder One is made of carbon fiber, making it lighter and stronger than past airships.

The airship initially runs on diesel but aims to switch to renewable energy sources like solar or hydrogen power.

Though slower than planes, the airship offers a more environmentally friendly option for travel.

The gondola is designed to seat about ten people and is used for commercial sightseeing, though the interior is currently basic.

The company's vision extends beyond leisurely sky cruises, with a focus on disaster relief scenarios.

Airships can be used to deliver supplies in disaster situations where infrastructure is damaged and helicopters are limited.

The company is studying airships capable of carrying up to 200 tons of cargo, with a scalable approach for larger airships.

Despite the potential, there are challenges ahead, including market size and the practicality of cargo applications.

The airship is on the verge of being revealed, with the promise of providing a unique and eco-friendly travel experience.