Berlin
Cargolifter - the flying crane
|
 |
|
A new and imaginative transport system is aiming to replace cargo ships and freight planes. "Cargolifter", a giant airship, is built to carry up to 160-ton loads of heavy goods and industrial equipment from Germany to all over the world.
Dr Carl-Heinrich von Gablenz, CEO of "Cargolifter" says: "The basic idea of the Cargolifter is actually quite simple. It is what the name says. We want to lift cargo, and not just lift it, but also transport it and then put it down again. So, basically - a flying crane."
An international staff of 489 people are working on this ambitious project. The giant workshop is located in a former aircraft hanger, used by the Soviet Army in Brand, close to Berlin. The full-scale airship will be three times the size of a football pitch in length. Smaller versions of the "Cargolifter" have already been completed and successfully tested - models called Joey and Charlie.
Traditionally, goods have been transported easily by ship. But it's difficult to move goods by road. In countries with poor infrastructure, such as India and China, it is almost impossible. The developers of "Cargolifter" say this is a market they think their product will be best suited to address.
However, few people have forgotten the disaster of the Hindenburg airship, which crashed and burst into flames. Cargolifter promises there is no danger of this accident being repeated. Unlike the Hindenberg, which was filled with highly inflammable hydrogen, the "Cargolifter" will be filled with non-flammable helium.
"Cargolifter World" is the visitor centre that organises workshop tours.
Brand (Niederlausitz)
Tel: 0049 30 351 95 20
Opening times:
Jan- Mar Tue-Sun 10am - 5pm
Apr-Oct Tue-Sun 9am - 6pm
Nov-Dec Tue-Sun 10am - 5pm
Links
Cargolifter
Official website of "Cargolifter". News, events, the company and figures. In English and German.
Hot Airship
Website covering all there is to know about airships, even giving you instructions on how to make one yourself. In English.
Gallery of airships
Images of world famous airships like Graf Zeppelin, Hindeburg or Shenandoah. In English.
These links do not constitute
an endorsement by the BBC of the companies, their services or
products. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external
sites.
|
| |
|
|
|
