Innovation in the skies
At first glance, the Festo hot-air airship resembles a Zeppelin. Only on closer inspection you will notice that that it is a motorised hot-air airship: Festo's AS 105-GD hot-air airship. This is the latest creation from Festo's ballooning team, featuring a host of innovations within and without its envelope. The most recent one is part of a short yet highly successful tradition.
Equipped with an engine, the hot-air airship is not dependent on prevailing winds and can be steered independently. This means that the ship can be taken on round trips at speeds of up to 20 knots (40 km/h) for 45 to 70 minutes. The only prerequisite is stable weather conditions and no winds of more than 10 knots during the flight.