Airship do Brasil is a lighter than air (LTA) technological company based in São Carlos, located in the state of São Paulo and is guided by the country’s pioneering spirit in the manned airship sector. Currently, only six companies in the world possess the full LTA technological cycle and Brazil enters the select group of countries (five in total) that dominate the knowledge that can be applied to the aeronautical and aerospace sector. The company initiated its activities with its unmanned, radio controlled dirigibles ADB-1 and ADB-2, and surveillance balloons known as aerostats. Demonstrating the company’s knowledge in the LTA cycle, 2017 is the year in which ADB built Latin-America’s first manned airship and newest product, the ADB-3-X01 prototype.



The inaugural flight is scheduled to happen on July 24th, in the airspace surrounding ADB’s properties. The aircraft is ready to be used by the Brazilian Armed Forces and the model series is currently in the process of certification as the ADB-3-3, whose certification will permit its civil commercialization which will be market ready 2018.



The representative which will debut on the 24th possesses various applications for training and vigilance such as:

- Pilot, crew and ground crew training by the Lighter than Air School of Aviation (ESALTA) instituted by Airship do Brasil.

- Surveillance and monitoring for defense purposes, environmental protection, early fire warning prevention, border control and others such as (cameras, radars, spotlights, etc.). All of which are facilitated by the aircraft’s ability to stay in flight due to aerostatic lift.

- Passenger transport for panoramic flights - tourism.

- Reconnaissance flights, aero photometric, agriculture, search and rescue.

- Small payload or passenger transport to hard to reach places without access to airport infrastructure.

- Electrical transmission line inspection or similar structures.

- Marketing and propaganda with expressive brands to be displayed on the envelope and gondola.



The ADB-3-X01 is culmination for these finalities, the airship has 49m (160.8 ft) in length and 17m (55.8 ft) in height with an approximate payload capacity of one metric tonne with space for 1 pilot and 5 occupants. Additionally the aircraft possesses a 300hp motor, reaching speeds up to 85 KPH (52.8 MPH).



Airships dispense the need for runways and can be fabricated for flight autonomy in mind. These aircraft utilize aerostatic lift, being able to float without motor propulsion which concedes greater flight safety. Additionally these equipments are very fuel efficient per kilometer / mile compared to traditional fixed winged aircraft.



Simultaneously, ADB is developing the cargo airship line denominated as the ADB-3-30, this cargo airship has a payload capacity for 30 metric tonnes, 330m³ (11,654 ft³), 125 KPH (77.7 MPH) customizable autonomy.



A Great mark in aviation history.



Airship do Brasil SA