Airship flight test program continues

July 10, 2024

At LTA Research, a groundbreaking flight test program is underway for Pathfinder 1, a rigid-body electric airship and the world’s largest flying vehicle. Each test phase is carefully planned and implemented by the skilled team at LTA, using our collective expertise and experience to responsibly and safely conduct flight testing on the largest most innovative airship in nearly 100 years.

Ongoing flight testing for Pathfinder 1 in Hangar 2

Our team conducted a series of ground tests on Pathfinder 1 inside Hangar 2 at Moffett Field in recent months. During indoor ground tests, LTA’s flight test team carefully examined:

• Pathfinder 1’s structural integrity
• Systems functionality
• Overall performance under various simulated conditions

In this same time period, the ground crew performed maneuvering exercises to ensure smooth and safe handling of the airship.

Next in flight testing

In the coming weeks and months, LTA will continue conducting tests indoors and outdoors. Pathfinder 1 will undergo a range of maneuvers and scenarios throughout the flight testing phase that gradually push the airship’s capabilities.

Experienced airship pilots along with flight test engineers will explore the airship’s handling characteristics in various conditions and at different altitudes systematically. Starting as low as 10 feet off the ground, these tests will slowly increase in altitude and distance over time. Monitoring, data collection and analysis is conducted for reach flight to identify areas for improvement and support safety and reliability.

Because Pathfinder 1 is a proof-of-concept vehicle, only members of the flight test team may be passengers. The flight test team collects critical information from Pathfinder 1 to inform the future of our next generation airships and bring us one step closer to our goal of complementing humanitarian aid efforts and reducing the carbon emissions in aviation.