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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0434.PDF
Airship Industries (AI) flew its Skyship 600 for the first time on March 6. The new machine is larger than its predecessor, the Skyship 500, has passenger accommo dation for some 20 people, and offers considerably greater range. After initial test work it will be fitted with power controls in the form of a fly- by-light system being devel oped by Marconi Avionics (see Flight for November 12, page 1310). First flight of the new machine comes at an important time in Airship Industries' development. The manufacturer is currently raising additional capital to pay for continued work on the two airships. Australia's Bond Corporation is underwriting a rights issue which will raise £7 million. Chairman Alan Bond was behind the successful Australia II racing yacht which won the "America's Cup" from the New York Yacht Club last year. Bond Corporation has interests in mineral exploration, property, brewing, and hotels. Just 12 months ago some £5-5 million was raised in a rights issue to provide capital for a major production programme. The new issue is said to be necessary to ensure that the past eight years' work is not jeopardised at a time when commercial viability had never been closer. Airship Industries filed a loss of £2 • 3 million for the six months to September 30, 1983. It attributes this to three factors. First, modifica tions to the Skyship 500 required more engineering and flight-test time than expected, with longer-than- expected delays in receiving Civil Aviation Authority certification. An aerial-work certificate was awarded in November 1983; full pas senger-transport approval is expected in about three months. Secondly, AI suffered a setback in its plans to estab lish a company in Canada. It has now reached an agree ment with a subsidiary of Westinghouse, covering oper ations in North America. Thirdly, the delays in obtain ing certification prevented receipt of "the early revenue 672 Alongside Skyship 500-02, Skyship 600 is prepared for its first flight *? boost" which had appeared likely, while full establish ment had been maintained. The company lost of almost £10 million between June 1978 and September 1983 including an operating loss of some £8-5 million, both figures being calculated according to historic-cost conventions. Following last week's first flight of the Skyship 600, pilot Cdr Nick Bennett reports a "copybook operation. The ship behaved exactly as expec ted, no modifications are required, and we will therefore be starting immediately with certification flying". AI says that obtaining approval for the new machine should be a far quicker process, given the consid erable commonality between the two airships. The new airship is dwarfed by the doors of its Cardington shed Certification of the Skyship 500 is now expected in June, with final approval for passenger-transport oper ations with the 600 predicted for March 1985. This is some what later than the respective September 1983 and March 1984 dates given a year ago. Skyship production to date comprises three 500s and the single 600. The initial Skyship 500 (02-G-BIHN) is con tinuing with the C of A flying, pilot training, and demonstra tions at Cardington. Certifica tion procedures are described by AI as "95 per cent complete". Ships 03 and 04 have been based at Weeksville (North Carolina) and are both involved in pilot training and certification work; 03 is the machine used by the US Naval Development Centre for a three-month trial in 1983. Skyship 500-04 is leased by New York advertising agency Dentsu for a six- month promotional tour of the USA in the colours of Fuji Film. Airship Industries plans to produce two more Skyship 500s and some six more 600s by the end of March 1985. Construction of three of these has been described as "at an advanced stage". Since last year's rights issue Al has sold Skyship 500-02 to Britain's Department of Trade & Industry under a pre- FL1GHT International, 17 March 1984* y
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