Channel crossing by airship record beaten! On 4th.,September , the Transoceans Association succeeded in crossing the English Channel with an electric powered airship in record time ! At the controls of the Iris Challenger 2, the two aeronauts proved that zero CO2 emission air transport is possible; and it's just the beginning ! At first glance, the Iris Challenger 2, looks like a flying saucer. This ecologically clean airship is actually the result of 18 months effort by the Transocéans association ! To gain stability, the float system equipped nacelle was attached eight metres below the balloon for the crossing of the 46 km ( 29 miles ) that separate Cap Gris -Nez in France from Dymchurch in the UK : Two lithium batteries power both variable thrust electric motors, which turn the twin 1,30 metre ( 4ft.3in. ) diametre propellers. Pierre Chabert - Aassociation President and Transocéans pilot "This engine support bar is directional, i.e. it can turn in any of four directions to provide upward, downward, forward or reverse thrust; and in addition we can also use the power differentials between the left and right motors to turn left or right !" After 2 hours 23 minutes of flight, the two aeronauts success fully touch down on English terra firma ! This Channel crossing made it possible to set a world distance and time record in the category of balloons from 400 - 800 m3 ( 14,000 – 28,000 cu.ft. ), an adventure that has made its mark in the history books. Pierre Chabert - Aassociation President and Transocéans pilot "Oh, it's a mixed feeling between pure happiness and the anxiety to succeed; the anxiety of being up to it, regarding to all the participants and the entire team who have worked on the project for years, so it’s almost indescribable, but it's still exhilarating. When we left the ground, and passed over the lighthouse, I turned to my friend, Gerard Fedzer, and we both said, “Wow ! This is unbelievable”, it was sunrise; they were simply magical moments, something we’ll never forget !" And the horizon looks charged. In 2014, the association intends to cross the Mediterranean in an electrically powered airship, and then tackle the Atlantic Ocean. Whilst following the footsteps of the pioneers of aviation, somewhat, over and above the symbolic aspects of this exploit, Transocéans would like to be recognized as a test laboratory for zero CO-2 emission air transport!
Channel crossing by airship record beaten !
06/09/2013
DESCRIPTION : On 4th September, the Transoceans Association succeeded in crossing the English Channel with an electric powered airship in record time ! At the controls of the Iris Challenger 2, the two aeronauts proved that zero CO2 emission air transport is possible… and it's just the beginning !