Since
the collapse of Airship Industries in the early 1990's some of
the groups main employees and designers decided to continue with
the airship programme and in 1995 set up a small company named
originally, Airship Technologies Group but
later
to be known as Advanced Airship Technologies Group (ATG). The
company continued to pressure the market and proving of airship
and hybrid lighter than air craft. The AT-10 was devised using
the advancements as seen in the Sentinel 1000, a cross configured
tail fin was one main advancements carried forward on the smaller
craft.
It
was seen that a small pilot training and advertising vehicle would
be needed by the company before embarking on it's larger projects
and the AT-10 fulfilled that role. The AT-10 is a 4-5 seat commercial
airship providing an advertising and camera platform capability
allied to others uses such as the pilot training.
The
ship design moved away from the earlier skyship configuration.
The envelope made of a laminated translucent fabric and a hull
with a external cantenary collar system supporting the main payload
module. A single ballonet was installed centrally located over
the payload module (cabin) for hull pressure control.
The
payload or gondola comprises of a single structural module with
a flight deck comprising of 2 pilot stations and 2 sidestick controls.
The passenger compartment behind the flight deck allows seating
for 4 passengers with a single large door entrance. The passenger
seating configuration can be rearranged for flexible location
of equipment.
A
small stowage compartment is also added with a small toilet on
board for comfort. The AT-10 also carries a power plant of 2,
100bhp horizontally opposed two stroke direct injection diesel
engines. As with earlier airship technology, the AT-10 continues
to use the fly by wire optical technology. It also had a flight
control system provision for an auto pilot facility.
The
first flight of the AT-10 was on a sunny morning on 28th March
2002 where the ship carried out her initial trials. Since then
the AT-10 has been seen flying over the Cardington Airfield continuing
tests.
