Boeing's New Heavy Lifter

Lighter than air is getting a lot of attention lately. Boeing has a new interesting evolution intended for commercial application.

Boeing and SkyHook International have announced that they intend to team up for a new aircraft called the JHL-40 (Jess Heavy Lifter). The JHL-40 is a new commercial heavy lift aircraft that is intended to transport equipment and materials in remote and harsh regions such as Alaska or the Canadian Arctic.

Boeing will build the JHL-40 neutrally buoyant rotorcraft for SkyHook, which will own, maintain and operate the JHL-40 for commercial clients.

The aircraft utilizes a helium filled envelope that provides enough lift to make the JHL-40 aircraft, engines, and crew neutrally buoyant. The four rotors will generate lift that is only needed to support the payload. According to Boeing and SkyHook, the JHL-40 will be able to lift loads as heavy as 40 tons and transport them up to 200 miles without refueling.

You can bet the Army will be looking into this for their Joint Heavy Lift platform. Believe it or not, something very similar to this is discussed in great detail in the original Defense Science Board report on Sea Basing.

When you start thinking about this technology, and the maturity potential, the absence of a military commitment to date is curious. We tend to think there is a lot of capability here long term.