Skyship 600
| Skyship 600 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A Skyship 600 on the mast at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York | |
| Role | commercial non-rigid airship |
| Manufacturer | Airship Industries |
| First flight | 6 March 1984 |
| Number built | 10 |
| Developed from | Airship Industries Skyship 500 |
The Airship Industries Skyship 600 is a modern airship, originally designed by British company Airship Industries, further developed by a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Corporation the type certificate holder is now Skyship Services of Orlando, Florida in the United States.
The first Skyship 600 made its maiden flight on 6 March 1984. By August 1987 a further six had been built and flown. The Skyship 600 is similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Skyship 500.
Airship Industries collapsed in 1990. Westinghouse Electric's defense arm had taken over the US Navy's airship programme in which Airship Industries was a partner and bought the military marketing rights and intellectual rights to the Skyship designs from the official receiver. Slingsby Aviation, which was the principal subcontractor to Airship Industries bought other assets, marketing rights and intellectual property for civil versions along with the type certificates. Westinghouse purchased the Skyship 600S demonstrator, Airship International -who were to market the civil design in the Americas -bought two unfinished Skyships and Skyship 600-02, and took over the equipment of Airship Industries US arm.
The type certificates for the Skyship 600 series was purchased from Westinghouse Airships in 1994 by American company Global Skyship Industries, transferred to Skycruiser Corporation in 2004 and changed hands again in 2012 to Skyship Services.
Most Skyship 600s have been used for advertising purposes, like 600-05 which flew in 2006-7 as "Spirit of Dubai". A purpose built Skyship was used to promote the Division Bell tour by Pink Floyd in 1994 until the ship's destruction. Pieces of the craft used by Pink Floyd became souvenirs. In December 2007, a Skyship 600 was leased by supporters of US presidential candidate Ron Paul to fly with the banner "Who is Ron Paul? Google Ron Paul". Others have been used for surveillance purposes, including during the 2004 Summer Olympics.
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