"Tech billionaire and Google co-founder Sergey Brin's experimental aircraft, the Pathfinder 1, was spotted flying over San Francisco yesterday, photos show. Though it's been described as a " Goodyear blimp on steroids" by aviation analysts, the helium-filled structure technically isn't a blimp at all - it's a sleek, futuristic airship measuring 400 feet long and outfitted with titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber materials. By contrast, traditional blimps lack a rigid structure, according to DesignNews."
"Pathfinder 1 previously launched in 2023 and 2024, but its prototype left the Moffett airfield and flew over the Bay Area for the first time in May of this year, Brin's company, LTA Research announced. Meanwhile, the A-60, a smaller aircraft designed to train pilots near the airfield while the Pathfinder 1 continues testing, was also spotted in Silicon Valley."
"Capable of withstanding 80 mph winds and built in collaboration with Zeppelin, Pathfinder 1 is controlled by a "fly-by-wire" system that combines sensory data with joystick commands from pilots operating in a gondola attached to the belly of the aircraft. Thirteen enormous bags of helium help lift the airship, while 12 propulsion motors help direct its movement."
Sergey Brin's Pathfinder 1 is a 400-foot helium-filled rigid airship constructed from titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber and photographed over San Francisco. The design differs from traditional blimps by including a rigid structure. The prototype previously flew in 2023 and 2024 and departed Moffett airfield for its first Bay Area flight in May. A smaller A-60 aircraft was also observed near Silicon Valley to train pilots while Pathfinder testing continues. Pathfinder 1 can withstand 80 mph winds, uses a fly-by-wire system operated from a gondola, and relies on 13 helium bags and 12 propulsion motors for lift and control.
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