Tethered Aerostats (Blimps)
 

Aerostar has over 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing tethered helium aerostats for military, homeland security and scientific use.  We manufacture stable flying aerostats which are easy to use, reliable and durable. All of our aerostats can be flown over land or over the sea, based on operational needs of the end user.  Examples of payloads which are flown: audio and imagery surveillance communication relay reconnaissance intelligence gathering aerial targets atmospheric sampling search and rescue equipment aerial video relay applications

TIF-25KTM flying at approximately 150'

TIF-25KTM moored on the docking station

We offer several standard lines of aerostats, ranging in size from 4.8m (16’) to 40m (130’) in length.  Our larger aerostats are offered as turn-key systems, including the aerostat envelope, mooring trailer, winch system, powered tether with fiber optics and on-board power system. If you require more power, higher flying altitudes or different payload weights, customization is our forte and we can offer you a solution. When we know your requirements, we can quote the customization of a standard size blimp or quote a complete custom design.  Two different body styles of tethered blimps are available, the Tethered Inflated Fin (TIF) and the Tethered Rigid Fin (TRF).  Either style of blimp can be equipped to carry your payload.

All of the large turn-key aerostat systems are the inflated fin design.  The TIF blimps are easiest to deploy as the fins inflate at the same time as the body of the blimp. Information regarding our turn-key large aerostat systems can be found in the Large Aerostat Specifications pages: TIF-12KTM, TIF-25KTM, TIF-50KTM, TIF-75KTM, TIF-120KTM. . If our standard sizes and specifications don’t suit your project requirements, we are a custom manufacturer and will quote the specific size of blimp which will suit your needs.  Our most requested customization is to add a dilation panel or a ballonet for longer flight times.

TIF-6000 ready for flight

TIF-3895-D tethered with a sea anchor in the Indian Ocean

Our basic sizing information for the aerostats smaller than 15m (50’) can be found on the  Aerostat Sizing Chart. The TRF blimps are a patented design and have very stable flight profiles.  The two step inflation and deployment requires a little more time than the TIF design.  The body of the blimp is filled with helium and then the rigid fins are attached to the tail section.  The Indian Ocean is being studied utilizing a custom sized TRF blimp.  Scientists from CNES are assessing the interaction of the atmosphere and ocean, to read more about the project, visit CNES’s website.  During last years campaign two of the blimps were carried along with a cyclone during January and February of 2007 (see flight path image below).

Aerostar also manufactures non-tethered or free flying aerostats and blimps.  For over 10 years our Remote Controlled (R/C) Blimp line has been used to generate excitement at sporting events.  Mostly used indoors, there are outdoor models which can fly in winds of 15mph or less.  These blimps have military and Department of Homeland Security applications for communication, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (CISR). Our Aerospace Product line also includes a free flying, station keeping airship called HiSentinelTM.  More information can be found at Station Keeping Applications.

Aeroblimp 30 in flight over Singapore

I would like more information or pricing on Tethered Aerostats

TRF-900 with articulated fins test inflation	TRF-900 articulated fin actual flight path as recorded by on-board instrumentation
TRF-3895-D (Aeroclipper 2) Cyclone flight path	Targets suspended beneath a TRF-3500-2D
TRF-3500-2D being towed	TRF-3500-2D being towed
TRF-2500-D Ready For Flight	TRF-1500 Payload Rigging Area
TRF-3500-2D flight ready

I would like more information or pricing on Tethered Aerostats