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Actually, it's both.
Boeing Co. and private Canadian company SkyHook International Inc. unveiled plans to produce a commercial airship filled with helium powered by four helicopter rotors attached to its belly.
The Jess Heavy Lifter, or JHL-40, would be capable of lifting up to 40 tons and transporting it up to 200 miles without refueling, allowing companies to haul trucks, timber, steel or other equipment to remote areas.
Two production prototypes of the 300-foot long "blimp on steroids" will be manufactured in the Boeing Rotorcraft Systems manufacturing facility in Ridley Township and should be completed by 2012, Boeing and Skyhook officials said Tuesday.
The aircraft, which would carry more than double the capacity of the largest helicopter - an MI-26 - uses helium to lift off while using fuel to power the craft's rotors, which are used solely to move the load.
This is opposed to helicopters, which burn plenty of fuel just lifting their own weight.
"It's a blimp on steroids because it has more than 20,000 horsepower and it's a serious working machine," said Pete Jess, president of the Calgary, Alberta-based firm.
Jess first came up with the idea for the blimp 25 years ago after facing difficulties in his work in the oil industry.
The JHL-40 was designed to allow companies to take on projects in distant locations, such as the Canadian Arctic and Alaska, without having to build roads or rails to transport equipment or materials to the site.
"We expect this aircraft will have a dramatic and immediate impact on industries such as oil and mining," said David Koopersmith, vice president of Boeing Advanced Precision Engineering and Mobility.
"Companies have suggested this new technology will enable them to begin working much sooner on projects that were thought to be 15 or 20 years away," said Jess.
Once SkyHook patented the invention, it presented the model to Chicago-based Boeing Co., which agreed to develop and build the craft.
"This is a purpose-driven machine for specific operations. We have skinned out all of the fluff, so to speak, and everything that goes into this aircraft is going to be to meet its mission," said Kenneth Laubsch, Boeing SkyHook program manager and chief engineer.
Boeing and SkyHook officials declined to answer any questions about financing the project or how much a JHL-40 may cost, and did not disclose who potential the customers may be.
While the JHL-40 is being developed as a commercial craft, Jess said there is a possibility it may someday be utilized in the military.
"There's a lot of interest in ship-to-shore transport, whether it's military or commercial," said Jess.
SkyHook plans to initially release 50 to 60 blimps into the market.
"At the moment we believe that's what can be absorbed immediately or in a short time. We've had hundreds of inquiries from different companies that have interest," said Jess.
By the first 15 months of production, Jess said he expects 100 engineers will be working on the two prototypes in Ridley.
While the first two JHL-40s will be manufactured in Ridley, where the rest of the heavy-lifters will be made is yet to be determined, said Boeing Advanced Systems spokesman Chris Haddox.
Though the rotorcraft is reliant on jet fuel, Jess insisted the JHL-40 is comparatively environmentally friendly.
"There's no question that this machine will burn a lot of fuel. But when you look at the alternative, if you have to build a road because the only way to bring in a 40-ton object is by truck, think of all the energy consumed to build that road, maintain it and hauling snow. I think you'll find that we actually have a lot less impact than one might perceive," Jess said.
Skyhook will own, maintain, operate and service all JHL-40 aircraft. The company said the aircraft will be available commercially once it is certified by Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration.
