Aircraft 'lighter than air' took off the test

Phoenix airship hybrid aircraft 15m long, 10.5m wingspan, equipped with solar batteries to help replenish energy.

Phoenix aircraft developed by Scottish scientists crossed the 120m route during the first test trip in March. It is considered to be extremely durable automatic aircraft , which can alternate light state transitions and heavier than air to create thrust, thereby constantly flying in the sky.

Phoenix aircraft with helium-filled body.(Photo: BBC).

Phoenix looks like a 15m long balloon with a 10.5m wingspan, designed for commercial and scientific purposes. The manufacturing group hopes it will revolutionize the telecommunications industry.

"During the half-time, Phoenix is ​​a heavier aircraft than the air, the rest are lighter than air. Continuous switching between the two states helps to create thrust," Andrew Rae, engineering professor At the University of Highlands and Islands, explain.

"This system allows Phoenix to power itself. Vehicles based on this technology can be used as counterfeit satellites and will be a low-cost solution for telecommunications operations," Rae added. The team also expects Phoenix to deliver Wi-Fi to remote areas.

The fuselage contains helium, helps it fly high, and an air bag can suck and compress the gas, helping it descend. Phoenix is ​​also equipped with many solar panels on the wings and tail to power the valves and pumping equipment.

Airship aircraft are returning in recent years. Airlander 10, the world's largest helium-filled aircraft, is expected to begin commercial operations in the next few years.