On July 24th, about 800 people attended the 3-X01’s inaugural flight, the first manned airship built in Latin America by Airship do Brasil (ADB). The development of the project relied with the participation of the electrical sector, with prominent actors such as ANEEL and Eletronorte which greatly contributed to prototype’s applicability to the electrical industry.



With this feat, Airship do Brasil finds itself within the six companies in the world that possess the full aeronautical technological knowledge applied to the lighter than air R&D cycle. The aircraft is ready to be used with the Brazilian Armed Forces and its offspring, which will be the certified 3-3 model will permit its commercialization in 2018. Concomitantly, the cargo family under the name ADB-3-30 is under development, which permits the transport of 30 tonnes and a gondola that has a capacity of 330m³



The event happened at ADB’s operations hanger [the H-2), which attracted aviation enthusiasts, professionals of the aeronautical industry, the

company’s development partners, various media outlets and the illustrious presence of São Carlos’ mayor Ailton Garcia, Brazilian Postal Services Guilherme Campos Jr. and the President of the Municipal Chamber of São Carlos, Júlio César.



Dr. Irani Bertolini, president of the Bertolini Company Group which ADB is part of, emphasized the importance of the great step taken by Brazil. Airship’s president, Dr. Paulo Vicent Caleffi buried a time capsule entitled “Message to the future” with envelopes and pictures of employees and partners that will be opened in 2037.



During the ceremony, Brazilian Post proceeded with the philatelic event, obliterating the commemorative stamp of the first airship built in Latin America, a great pride which will always be part of national history.