BUSINESS PROFILE FOR HYBRID PILOT SERVICES LTD (HPS Ltd) Company no: 7580450
HPS Ltd is a UK based consultancy service company that provides expert advice to any government department or private company considering using, or developing a modern Helium airship or hybrid air vehicle for civil or security applications. This service is mostly provided by the director, a commercial airship captain who has 25 years and 9000 hrs flying mostly Zeppelin nt, Skyship 500 and 600 series airships in the USA, Canada, Caribbean, Europe, Greece, Australia and South Korea. The director has previously worked for Airship Industries (UK), DZR (Germany), Skycruise (Switzerland), AMS (USA) and Hybrid Air Vehicles (UK).
The main focus of HPS Ltd is safety and efficiency oversight contracts that of are of great use to a customer, both during the final contract negotiations and after a contract is signed by an LTA vehicle manufacturer or operator.
The owner and director of HPS Ltd might be away from base overseas, but is available to provide free advice by e mail or skype and can also provide contact information for all of the modern airship companies or operational personnel.
Initial consultation is free, but if the enquiry is of a prolonged, complex or professional nature, a fee will be discussed and an invoice sent.
SECURITY NOTICE: This site does not identify the owner, give telephone numbers or registered e mail addresses due to the requirements and restrictions of past and present security contracts.
Picture: Two Skycruise Skyship 600B's in Athens for the Olympics.
The main focus of HPS Ltd is safety and efficiency oversight contracts that of are of great use to a customer, both during the final contract negotiations and after a contract is signed by an LTA vehicle manufacturer or operator.
The owner and director of HPS Ltd might be away from base overseas, but is available to provide free advice by e mail or skype and can also provide contact information for all of the modern airship companies or operational personnel.
Initial consultation is free, but if the enquiry is of a prolonged, complex or professional nature, a fee will be discussed and an invoice sent.
SECURITY NOTICE: This site does not identify the owner, give telephone numbers or registered e mail addresses due to the requirements and restrictions of past and present security contracts.
Picture: Two Skycruise Skyship 600B's in Athens for the Olympics.
From pedal powered airships to Hybrids, HPS Ltd can provide expert guidance.
HPS Ltd can help steer your company or government department in the right direction when it comes to any matter concerning modern airships (Blimps and Zeppelins) or the new hybrid air vehicles.
There have been a surprising number of legal and financial difficulties encountered in the past, both by the customers of some airship companies and with investors in future airship development projects.
Very few people fully understand the complexities involved with airship operations or the practical possibilities for the development of airships in the future. This lack of understanding is also complicated by the ability of many airship companies to overstate the performance and limitations of their product or project.
Picture with top of page header: Hybrid air vehicle scale demonstrator landing on test pond at Cardington a few years ago. Copyright: Hybrid Air Vehicles, Cranfield England.
There have been a surprising number of legal and financial difficulties encountered in the past, both by the customers of some airship companies and with investors in future airship development projects.
Very few people fully understand the complexities involved with airship operations or the practical possibilities for the development of airships in the future. This lack of understanding is also complicated by the ability of many airship companies to overstate the performance and limitations of their product or project.
Picture with top of page header: Hybrid air vehicle scale demonstrator landing on test pond at Cardington a few years ago. Copyright: Hybrid Air Vehicles, Cranfield England.
HPS Ltd FACEBOOK LINK
SEE: www.facebook.com/pages/Hybrid-Pilot-Services-Ltd/119538574736300#!/pages/Hybrid-Pilot-Services-Ltd/119538574736300?sk=wall
Note: This Facebook site is a static one and does not accept comments or questions, so please use the contact form. The wall page will show some of the more important press articles from 1st January 2012.
UK AIRSHIP ASSOCIATION MEMBER
THE OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF HPS LTD IS A MEMBER OF THE UK BASED AIRSHIP ASSOCIATION.
Airship Association web site: http://www.airship-association.org/cms/
RECENT PRESS AND NEWS SECTION
NEW HELIUM RICH GAS FIELDS DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA:
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/6530/central-petroleum-bullish-on-helium-potential-on-tenement-areas--6530.html
CENTRAL PETROLEUM GAS EXPLORATION COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA:
http://www.centralpetroleum.com.au/
Comment: It will takes a some years to develop the gas fields in Australia, but they will replace the US gas fields and Amarillo Helium reserve
as the worlds 3rd main source of Helium, with the recently developed Qatar gas fields in first place and the huge Siberian fields a close second, assuming no more new Helium rich gas fields are developed in the USA, Algeria, Poland, Canada or Russia.
NEW SOURCE OF HELIUM IN WYOMING CO2 GAS FIELD: http://www.financialpost.com/markets/news/Denbury+Resources+Agrees+Acquire+Reserves+Rocky+Mountain+Region/3527570/story.html
WORLD SKYSHIP RACE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703376504575492094053189182.html
World Sky race web site: http://www.worldskyrace.com WSR Forbes TV interview: http://www.worldskyrace.com/video_forbes.htm
Comment: This is one great idea and I would love to win the first blimp race around the world. This would be the first circumnavigation by airship, as the Graf Zeppelin that flew around the world covered a distance that is less than the tropic of cancer and stayed in the northern hemisphere, so in record terms it does not count as a circumnavigation.
MORE HELIUM FROM RUSSIA: http://www.oilandgaseurasia.com/articles/p/127/article/1350/
Vast new Helium sources in Russia to be developed: http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/02/10/43735879.html
Reuters article on the exploding price for rare earth metals: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth-idUSTRE72L10I20110322
Airships for Northern Canada: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/airships-are-answer-for-port-of-churchill-124174764.html
New Helium rich gas field in the US: http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article282968.ece
Interesting video of Skyship 600 annual maintenance in Russian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibbkOtv2REY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
More on the Helium rich gas field in Iran: http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2012/02/iran-examines-helium.html
Comment: Not too sure about the claim that Iran has the largest Helium production potential in the world, but their gas field is an extension of the Qatar one and is definitely known to be very large and contain a high percentage of Helium.
SKYSHIP 600 TO ALASKA: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130310/worlds-largest-blimp-headed-alaska
More on the Skyship tour of Alaska: http://www.adn.com/2013/03/13/2824116/airship-scheduled-to-tour-alaska.html
OIL PATCH INSIDER COMMENT:
An airship for Alaska
If you’re out and about in Alaska this summer, don’t be too surprised if you see a large and colorful airship floating above the muskeg or tundra. Skyship Services Inc. is bringing its Skyship 600 airship, the largest certified non-rigid airship in operation, to the state to demonstrate how a
lighter-than-air vehicle of this type could be used for tasks such as aerial prospecting for minerals, geophysical surveys or environmental monitoring, according to a press release from Sen. Lesil McGuire, co-chair of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. This type of airship, filled with helium rather than inflammable hydrogen and powered by engines with directional control, can take off and land vertically; can cruise at 40 miles per hour; and can remain airborne for up to 18 hours, the press release said. And, with an ability to move slowly coupled with no
requirement to pitch or roll during operation, an airship can provide a stable observation or survey platform, with no dependence on roads or
other means of surface travel. “Alaska’s limited road system … limits the ability to efficiently survey our resource rich lands,” McGuire said. “It makes perfect sense for Alaska to have an airship to open up access to opportunities in resource development that will help secure Alaska’s financial future.” The Skyship 600, which is 200 feet long and can carry up to 15 people, should arrive in Anchorage around July 4, remaining in Alaska until sometime in September, the press release said.
—Alan Bailey
Statement of General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF
Commander, United States Transportation Command http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=d5520516-835e-4825-9540-8fe4e0a011b7
Hybrid airships can revolutionize logistics by moving the supply chain above the battle space to deliver large volumes of cargo directly to the point of effect, without the need for an airfield or roads. By delivering directly, hybrid airships bypass many supply-chain "touches," thereby reducing cost and risk. The continued exploration of the hybrid airship concept is essential to support future operations in austere and infrastructure-challenged locales where USTRANSCOM will likely be required to support military or humanitarian relief operations.
AT 10 TRAINING BLIMP NEWS:
This airship type that first flew some years ago is now under development for use training pilots for the larger HAV series.
Vectored thrust take off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyxR0Kldh9k
Rolling take off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoFdHERAbQ&feature=related
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/6530/central-petroleum-bullish-on-helium-potential-on-tenement-areas--6530.html
CENTRAL PETROLEUM GAS EXPLORATION COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA:
http://www.centralpetroleum.com.au/
Comment: It will takes a some years to develop the gas fields in Australia, but they will replace the US gas fields and Amarillo Helium reserve
as the worlds 3rd main source of Helium, with the recently developed Qatar gas fields in first place and the huge Siberian fields a close second, assuming no more new Helium rich gas fields are developed in the USA, Algeria, Poland, Canada or Russia.
NEW SOURCE OF HELIUM IN WYOMING CO2 GAS FIELD: http://www.financialpost.com/markets/news/Denbury+Resources+Agrees+Acquire+Reserves+Rocky+Mountain+Region/3527570/story.html
WORLD SKYSHIP RACE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703376504575492094053189182.html
World Sky race web site: http://www.worldskyrace.com WSR Forbes TV interview: http://www.worldskyrace.com/video_forbes.htm
Comment: This is one great idea and I would love to win the first blimp race around the world. This would be the first circumnavigation by airship, as the Graf Zeppelin that flew around the world covered a distance that is less than the tropic of cancer and stayed in the northern hemisphere, so in record terms it does not count as a circumnavigation.
MORE HELIUM FROM RUSSIA: http://www.oilandgaseurasia.com/articles/p/127/article/1350/
Vast new Helium sources in Russia to be developed: http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/02/10/43735879.html
Reuters article on the exploding price for rare earth metals: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth-idUSTRE72L10I20110322
Airships for Northern Canada: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/airships-are-answer-for-port-of-churchill-124174764.html
New Helium rich gas field in the US: http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article282968.ece
Interesting video of Skyship 600 annual maintenance in Russian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibbkOtv2REY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
More on the Helium rich gas field in Iran: http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2012/02/iran-examines-helium.html
Comment: Not too sure about the claim that Iran has the largest Helium production potential in the world, but their gas field is an extension of the Qatar one and is definitely known to be very large and contain a high percentage of Helium.
SKYSHIP 600 TO ALASKA: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130310/worlds-largest-blimp-headed-alaska
More on the Skyship tour of Alaska: http://www.adn.com/2013/03/13/2824116/airship-scheduled-to-tour-alaska.html
OIL PATCH INSIDER COMMENT:
An airship for Alaska
If you’re out and about in Alaska this summer, don’t be too surprised if you see a large and colorful airship floating above the muskeg or tundra. Skyship Services Inc. is bringing its Skyship 600 airship, the largest certified non-rigid airship in operation, to the state to demonstrate how a
lighter-than-air vehicle of this type could be used for tasks such as aerial prospecting for minerals, geophysical surveys or environmental monitoring, according to a press release from Sen. Lesil McGuire, co-chair of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. This type of airship, filled with helium rather than inflammable hydrogen and powered by engines with directional control, can take off and land vertically; can cruise at 40 miles per hour; and can remain airborne for up to 18 hours, the press release said. And, with an ability to move slowly coupled with no
requirement to pitch or roll during operation, an airship can provide a stable observation or survey platform, with no dependence on roads or
other means of surface travel. “Alaska’s limited road system … limits the ability to efficiently survey our resource rich lands,” McGuire said. “It makes perfect sense for Alaska to have an airship to open up access to opportunities in resource development that will help secure Alaska’s financial future.” The Skyship 600, which is 200 feet long and can carry up to 15 people, should arrive in Anchorage around July 4, remaining in Alaska until sometime in September, the press release said.
—Alan Bailey
Statement of General Duncan J. McNabb, USAF
Commander, United States Transportation Command http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=d5520516-835e-4825-9540-8fe4e0a011b7
Hybrid airships can revolutionize logistics by moving the supply chain above the battle space to deliver large volumes of cargo directly to the point of effect, without the need for an airfield or roads. By delivering directly, hybrid airships bypass many supply-chain "touches," thereby reducing cost and risk. The continued exploration of the hybrid airship concept is essential to support future operations in austere and infrastructure-challenged locales where USTRANSCOM will likely be required to support military or humanitarian relief operations.
AT 10 TRAINING BLIMP NEWS:
This airship type that first flew some years ago is now under development for use training pilots for the larger HAV series.
Vectored thrust take off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyxR0Kldh9k
Rolling take off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoFdHERAbQ&feature=related
HYBRID NEWS:
NORTHROP GRUMMAN / HYBRID AIR VEHICLES awarded 517 million dollar LEMV contract.
Northrop Grumman are teamed with Hybrid Air Vehicles in Cardington, England. This contract is probably the most significant military aviation contract to be awarded from the US DoD to a UK company for a long time and has very significant implications for the future development of LTA hybrids and the HAV 304 and 366 in particular.
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) company web site: www.hybridairvehicles.com
Picture: The Airlander (HAV 366), which is designed for long range point to point cargo operations and medium range vertical lift operations. (Picture remains HAV Ltd Copyright)
Alaska LTA conference: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/24/1794842/future-cargo-airships-could-supply.html
INDEPENDENT: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-inventor-whos-putting-blimps-back-on-the-radar-2353673.html
GARY ELLIOT Interview (CEO OF HAV Ltd): http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2051075/GARY-ELLIOTT-INTERVIEW-Takeoff-airship-revival.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
National Post HAV 366 diagram: http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/na0831-hav-366.jpg?w=620&h=1109
Telegraph on HAV's for the Royal Navy: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9079047/21st-century-airships-may-join-Navy-fleet.html
Daily Mail on HAV's for the Royal Navy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100381/Modern-day-Zeppelins-help-Royal-Navy-spy-Taliban-weeks-time.html?ITO=1490
Special report from HAV: http://hybridairvehicles.com/pdf/HAVSpecialReport6Mar2012.pdf
Excellent article on HAV's from Ingenia: http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?index=756
Latest news on LEMV first flight date: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/massive-spy-blimp/
DAILY MAIL on LEMV first flight: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2187993/Long-Endurance-Multi-Intelligence-Vehicle-U-S-militarys-hybrid-airship-makes-flight.html
AOPA on LEMV first flight: http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2012/120815army-airship-makes-maiden-flight-in-lakehurst.html
Latest press article: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2013-01-11/northrop-grumman-eyes-indian-market-delayed-lemv
Transportation Command Chief Eyes Airships (Next Gov article on future use of the LEMV): http://www.nextgov.com/defense/whats-brewin/2013/03/transportation-command-chief-eyes-airships/61721/
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) company web site: www.hybridairvehicles.com
Picture: The Airlander (HAV 366), which is designed for long range point to point cargo operations and medium range vertical lift operations. (Picture remains HAV Ltd Copyright)
Alaska LTA conference: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/24/1794842/future-cargo-airships-could-supply.html
INDEPENDENT: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-inventor-whos-putting-blimps-back-on-the-radar-2353673.html
GARY ELLIOT Interview (CEO OF HAV Ltd): http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2051075/GARY-ELLIOTT-INTERVIEW-Takeoff-airship-revival.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
National Post HAV 366 diagram: http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/na0831-hav-366.jpg?w=620&h=1109
Telegraph on HAV's for the Royal Navy: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9079047/21st-century-airships-may-join-Navy-fleet.html
Daily Mail on HAV's for the Royal Navy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100381/Modern-day-Zeppelins-help-Royal-Navy-spy-Taliban-weeks-time.html?ITO=1490
Special report from HAV: http://hybridairvehicles.com/pdf/HAVSpecialReport6Mar2012.pdf
Excellent article on HAV's from Ingenia: http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?index=756
Latest news on LEMV first flight date: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/massive-spy-blimp/
DAILY MAIL on LEMV first flight: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2187993/Long-Endurance-Multi-Intelligence-Vehicle-U-S-militarys-hybrid-airship-makes-flight.html
AOPA on LEMV first flight: http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2012/120815army-airship-makes-maiden-flight-in-lakehurst.html
Latest press article: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2013-01-11/northrop-grumman-eyes-indian-market-delayed-lemv
Transportation Command Chief Eyes Airships (Next Gov article on future use of the LEMV): http://www.nextgov.com/defense/whats-brewin/2013/03/transportation-command-chief-eyes-airships/61721/
LEMV FIRST FLIGHT NEWS
US ARMY PRESS RELEASE:
"The first flight primary objective was to perform a safe launch and recovery
with a secondary objective to verify the flight control system operation.
Additional first flight objectives included airworthiness testing and
demonstration, and system level performance verification. All objectives were
met during the first flight."
Take off clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G-L7qvTKI
LEMV on mast at Lakehurst a few days before first flight.
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Steep climb demonstration!
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LEMV on final approach to first landing
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LAKEHURST
COMBINED HYBRID AIR VEHICLES Ltd & NORTHROP GRUMMAN PRESS RELEASE
http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2012/08/10/u-s-army-airship-completes-historic-flight/
EXTRACTS:
“Our air vehicle technology will allow the LEMV program to deliver ISR with unprecedented long endurance capability. The successful first flight of the vehicle demonstrates the readiness of hybrid air vehicle technology to serve military needs,” said Gary Elliott, chief executive officer of Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited.
The endurance ability of the LEMV system comes from a design that is built around Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited’s HAV304 aircraft design and Northrop Grumman’s open system architecture design, which provides a modular and flexible payload capability along with room for mission expansion and growth.
Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited is based in Cranfield, U.K., and provides a range of hybrid air vehicles and associated services for surveillance and heavy lift applications to government and commercial customers. Please visit www.hybridairvehicles.com for more information.
INCREDIBLE VIDEO CLIP OF THE LEMV LANDING: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOIEO6h1fy0
EXTRACTS:
“Our air vehicle technology will allow the LEMV program to deliver ISR with unprecedented long endurance capability. The successful first flight of the vehicle demonstrates the readiness of hybrid air vehicle technology to serve military needs,” said Gary Elliott, chief executive officer of Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited.
The endurance ability of the LEMV system comes from a design that is built around Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited’s HAV304 aircraft design and Northrop Grumman’s open system architecture design, which provides a modular and flexible payload capability along with room for mission expansion and growth.
Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited is based in Cranfield, U.K., and provides a range of hybrid air vehicles and associated services for surveillance and heavy lift applications to government and commercial customers. Please visit www.hybridairvehicles.com for more information.
INCREDIBLE VIDEO CLIP OF THE LEMV LANDING: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOIEO6h1fy0
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TRANS ATLANTIC AND CIRCUMNAVIGATION PROPOSAL
Although this web site is still under construction, it is now in use in the search for a major sponsor in the form of a large international marketing company, major international company or significant private individual, interested in supporting the proposal for a trans Atlantic crossing and first true circumnavigation by airship.
The Graf Zeppelin did a world tour in 1929, but as you can see from the map, it stayed in the Northern hemisphere and failed to complete the required distance.
SEE: www.blimpingaround.weebly.com
The Graf Zeppelin did a world tour in 1929, but as you can see from the map, it stayed in the Northern hemisphere and failed to complete the required distance.
SEE: www.blimpingaround.weebly.com
OTHER INTERESTING RECOMMENDED LINKS
HYBRID AIR VEHICLES LTD: www.hybridairvehicles.com
Zeppelin NT flights: http://www.zeppelinflug.de/ Airship Ventures: http://www.airshipventures.com/
Skyships International (Former AMS): www.airshipman.com Skycruise Switzerland: www.skycruise.ch
Interesting new solar powered hybrid airship company based in Canada: www.solarship.com/
BLUE BEAR SYSTEMS RESEARCH: http://www.bbsr.co.uk/lemv
 Classic Goodyear joke from Leslie Nielsen. |
GASBAGS COMEDY SITE
IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING MORE AMUSING ABOUT THE LIGHTER THAN AIR SECTOR,
TRY MY OTHER WEB SITE, WHICH IS POSSIBLY THE ONLY COMEDY SITE IN THE HELIUM SNIFFING SECTOR, SEE: www.hybridblimp.net THIS SITE ALSO HAS MANY GOOD U TUBE LINKS AND AN OLD NEWS SECTION. Picture above: Crewman Bill Weir in action, on the Skycruise Alegro tour in Poland. Copyright: Bill Weir and Skycruise Switzerland TRIBUTE TO LESLIE NIELSEN: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/11/leslie-nielsen-airplane-naked-gun-dies.html |
