SkyCat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The SkyCats were proposed hybrid airships to be developed by Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), a company founded by veteran airship builder Roger Munk based in Cardington, Bedfordshire, UK. A radio-controlled one-sixth scale prototype dubbed SkyKitten flew in July 2000. The first SkyCats were to have been operated by the World Skycat company in the UK, which proposes a world tour.
The craft was to have combined airship technology with a lifting body shape, with hovercraft technology used as part of the landing gear. Three models are planned, with 20, 220 and 1000 tonne cargo capacities.
The Advanced Technolgies Group is now defunct and the SkyCat project has ended. In 2006, a very similar design called the P-791 was test flown by Lockheed-Martin.
Despite the fact that the manufacturer has gone out of business, press reports about the aircraft persist. For instance, World SkyCat is reportedly considering setting up a terminal at the Ponoka airfield in Canada.[1]
