CARGOLIFTER CONDUCTS LIFT TESTS
CargoLifter Inc. said it successfully completed lift tests on its towed lighter-than-air airship at the company's airship base in Germany.
The first load exchange demonstration using the CargoLifter CL75 was conducted inside the company’s 35-story tall hangar outside of Berlin, on Oct. 5.
“This event was a huge step forward in the CargoLifter development process. It paves the way for the next round of tests, including eventual flight tests, of the CL75,” said Charles Edwards, president of CargoLifter Inc., the company’s U.S. subsidiary that oversees the project. CargoLifter is based in Raleigh, N.C.
CargoLifter said the unmanned CL75 will be capable of carrying up to 75 metric tons of cargo, towed by truck, helicopter, ship or a winch system. The company expects to market the airship in early 2003.