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SkyCat 20
Surveillance & Interdiction, Tourism, Advertising, Humanitarian Aid,
Logistics Lift, Warfare Support
Summary
The SkyCat 20 is the smallest in a range of Hybrid Air Vehicles ranging up to 1,000 tonnes payload capacity. The vehicles derive their flight capability from a mix of aerodynamic lift and helium buoyancy.
Envelope
Laminated fabric construction hull with internal catenary system supporting the payload module. The hull's aerodynamic shape, an elliptical cross-section allied to a cambered longitudinal shape, provides up to 40% of the vehicle's lift. The internal diaphragms required to support this shape allow for a limited amount of compartmentalisation further enhancing the fail-safe nature of the vehicle. Mulitiple ballonents located fore and aft in each of the outer hulls provide pressure control.
Payload Module
Located on centreline. Comprises 3 primary areas:
Flight Deck:-
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2 Pilot stations. |
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Twin sidestick controls. |
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Large transparencies for excellent all-round visibility. |
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Full avionics. |
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Mid Body:-
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Payload compartment. |
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Two large side access doors with built-in steps. |
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6 seat-tracks for flexible location of equipment and seating. |
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Aft-body:-
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Full width door and integral ramp for cargo use. |
Landing System
Hover skirts on the underside of the two outer hulls provide an amphibious capability with an enhanced ground handling ability. Hover skirts are 'sucked-in' for a clean-in-flight profile and enhanced all-round visibility. System shares use of ballonet fans with hull pressure system.
Power Plant
4 x 750 hp (600 hp max. cont.) horizontally opposed two-stroke, direct injection, diesel engines. Supercharged induction system. Two engines mounted forward on the hull and two on the stern of the hull for cruise operation. All four are configured in ducts with blown vanes to allow vectored thrust for take off/landing/ground handling operation.
Flight Controls
Dual-channel, optically signaled, flight control system.
Pneumatic System
Low pressure system for actuation of critical sub-systems that are required to have very low susceptibility to lightning strike and EMI.
Hybrid Air Vehicles has the most experienced Lighter-Than-Air design team in the world having designed, manufactured and had fully certified (FAA and CAA) for fare-paying passenge
Principal data
| Envelope Volume: |
32,000 m³
(1,130,000 ft³)
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| Overall Length: |
81.3 m (266.7 ft) |
| Overall Width: |
41.0 m (134.5 ft) |
| Overall Height: |
23.9 m (78.45 ft) |
Payload deck length: |
22.3 m (73.1 ft) |
| Payload deck width: |
3.1 m (10.2 ft) |
| Payload deck height: |
2.7 m (9 ft) |
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| Payload: |
20 tonnes |
Range:
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1,225 n.ms
(Max Payload)
4,000 n.ms (Ferry)
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| Altitude: |
9,000 ft
(Standard version)
18,000 ft (High altitude version)
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Speed: |
78 KTAS (Cruise)
92 KTAS (Maximum) |
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