Hybrid airships: a new era in air transport
Hybrid airships are a new type of aircraft with unique capabilities, offering a cost-efficient, eco-friendly and flexible solution for aerial logistics.
Straightline Aviation is proud to have partnered with manufacturer AT² Aerospace, a Lockheed Martin spin-out, and to be launch customer for their Z1, an advanced hybrid airship capable of transporting over 23 tons of cargo 1400 nautical miles and landing without infrastructure.
No roads, no airport - no problem
Our hybrid airships combine the best characteristics of traditional airships, helicopters, aeroplanes and even hovercraft to produce an aircraft that is safe, stable, scalable and sustainable.
More than just helium: around 70% of the hybrid airship’s lift comes from the helium inside, with 30% coming from the aerodynamic shape of the tri-lobe hull, which acts like an aeroplane wing.
More cargo, greater control: coupled with the patented Air Cushion Landing System, this allows our hybrid airships to carry heavier payloads and provides far greater control on the ground than traditional airships.
Access all areas: this combination of unique advantages means our hybrid airships can operate without traditional infrastructure.
Snow, water, sand, ice, gravel, grass: we have all-terrain capability
The Z1 hybrid airship has a unique, patented feature: the Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS). Formed of three hovercraft-like pads on the underside of the airship, this system enables the Z1 to ‘grip’ the ground, giving the ability to land anywhere and eliminating the need for a mooring mast or expensive ground support operation. This sets the Z1 apart from traditional airships and even other hybrid airships, which typically require ground support.
An unbeatable set of capabilities
Designed for versatility, efficiency and safety, hybrid airships offer game-changing advantages over traditional aircraft and ground transport:
Pioneering Air Cushion Landing System – The first airship to integrate hovercraft technology, enabling exceptional ground manoeuvrability, smooth landings and take-offs from remote, low-infrastructure terrain.
No Runways Required – Operates from unprepared ground, sand, snow, ice and water, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure.
Unrivalled Stability – A vibration-free cargo bay and passenger cabin provide the perfect platform for aerial sensors, imaging equipment and sensitive payloads such as vaccines.
Exceptional Safety – With aerostatic lift and a unique design, the hybrid airship is among the safest aircraft in the world.
Massive Cargo Capacity – Designed to carry large payloads, delivering logistics solutions where other aircraft can’t.
Fuel-Efficient & Sustainable – Consumes significantly less fuel than heavy-lift helicopters and fixed-wing airccraft, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Faster Than Land & Sea Transport – A superior alternative to traditional ground and maritime shipping, cutting transit times in remote areas.
Read more about what sets the Z1 apart.
Powerful, groundbreaking technology - proven in flight
Footage from a test flight of Lockheed Martin’s P-791 hybrid airship prototype
The Z1 isn’t just an ambitious concept: it’s based on proven, flight-tested technology. Its design stems from the Lockheed Martin P-791 prototype, which successfully demonstrated the viability of hybrid airships. The Z1 has been further refined by AT² Aerospace, led by the same Lockheed Martin engineers who developed the P-791, giving them deep expertise in hybrid airships.
Photographs of the Lockheed Martin P-791 in flight