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21TuesdayJune25201313064EE0IndustryAviationByJACKDANYLCHUKProposalsforradicalal-ternativestoconventionalairtransportstruggledtobecomeairborneinaroomfullofexpertsatatwo-dayconferenceinYellowknifeonArcticlogisticsandinfrastructure.TherewaspoliteapplauseafterJohnMorrisandEr-nestoSoriapresentedtheirideasforairshipsandairtrailersthatmightsomedaycarryfreightandfueltore-motesitesbeyondthereachofroads.MorrispresidentofHe-liplanelaidoutthedetailsofanunmannedcargode-liverysystemthathecallsanairtraileragliderwith-outwingsthatistowedbe-hindanaircraftandusesaverticalrotortoprovideliftandasoftlandingfromanyaltitude.ItlookslikeahelicopterbutitsnotMorrissaid.Thedifferenceisthattherotoronanairtrailerreliesonairpressureformotionandtheweightofthecargotoprovidestability.SoriadirectorofbusinessdevelopmentforVarialiftAirshipsmadeapitchforanall-aluminumjet-poweredhelium-lledblimpcapableoftransportingasmuchas500tonnesandlandingwith-outaconventionalairstrip.A250-tonneairshipwouldmeasure150metreslong50metreswideand50metreshighwitha9-metrehighcargobay.PitchesforunconventionalaircraftfailtomoveexpertsHeliumwouldbecontainedinaseriesoflightpackagesthatSoriacomparedtobagsusedtoholdpotatochips.Morriscomparedthegy-roplanetothelargecargoglidersusedintheSecondWorldWar.TheBritishsawitasacargosystemandinthelate1950sa200-pas-sengergyroplaneoperatedbetweenLondonParisandBrussels.TheBritishgovernmentcancelledtheprogrambutGroenBrothersAviationaUScompanyisfundedtobringoutanother200-hun-dredpassengeraircraftMorrissaid.Weareusingthesametechnologytodevelopairtrailerswith80000to200000poundsofcapacity.Aloadof200000poundscouldbetowedbyaC-130sizeair-craft.Whenthetowcableisreleasedthespinningro-torsprovidesufficientlifttolandthecargogently.TheonlyquestionfromtheaudiencewasforMor-rishowwouldtheairtrailerbehaveduringtakeoffinacrosswindItwouldbeunstableinanythingover20knotshereplied.Photowww.heliplanellc.comA250tonneall-aluminumjet-poweredhelium-lledblimpcontrastingwiththeHeliplaneairtrailershownabovewasoneoftheconceptsdiscussedatatwo-dayconferenceinYellowknifelastweekonArcticlogisticsandinfrastructure.