RISING TO THE OCCASION
The Airlander 10 has two hulls – hence the Flying Bum shape – and they’re made from composite materials designed for strength and helium retention. The hull uses three layers of materials: Tedlar for weather protection, Mylar to keep helium inside and Vectran for structural strength.
On the inside, it’s not just helium: smaller, malleable compartments called ballonets are filled with oxygen and maintain the craft’s pressure as the helium expands and contracts due to temperature and altitude changes. The pilots can adjust those ballonets as necessary, and if the hull is damaged there’s an automatic pressure management system that gives the pilots enough time to fly the Airlander to an airfield for repairs.