Helikite Performance and Prices

HELIKITE PERFORMANCE AND PRICES

Larger Helikites are able to lift more, to greater heights and in higher winds, than smaller Helikites. Thickness Approx. Helikite Helium of Balloon Lift in no Approx. Approx. Unloaded Type Capacity (Thou’ Inch) Wind Lift in Wind Wind Speed Max. Altitude Price Vigilante 0.15 m3 2 0.03 Kg 0.15 Kg 25 mph 1000 ft £98 Lightweight 0.15 m3 2 0.06 Kg 0.18 Kg 25 mph 1300 ft £98 Skyhook 1.0 m3 2 0.4 Kg 1.5 Kg 28 mph 2000 ft £650 1.3 m3 2 0.7 Kg 2.5 Kg 31 mph 2500 ft £750 2.5 m3 2 1.3 Kg 5.8 Kg 35 mph 5500 ft £800 2.5 m3 3 1.0 Kg 5.5 Kg 34 mph 5000 ft £800 3.3 m3 2 1.8 Kg 7.8 Kg 36 mph 6500 ft £1200 3.3 m3 3 1.5 Kg 7.5 Kg 35 mph 6000 ft £1200 5.0 m3 3 2.5 Kg 12.5 Kg 40 mph 7000 ft £1600 11.0 m3 3 6.0 Kg 25 Kg 45 mph 10,000 ft £2600 21 m3 3 13 Kg 50 Kg 50 mph 20,000 ft * £4500 50 m3 3 25 Kg 110 Kg 65 mph * 30,000 ft * £10,500 60 m3 3 34 Kg 150 Kg 70 mph* 35,000 ft * £11,500 Larger Helikites can be made that will lift considerably more. Please ask us for performance details if required. * These figures are estimates. Extreme cold above 15,000ft may reduce helium holding efficiency of standard polyurethane. Material: Performance figures will vary if non-standard materials are used. For instance stealthy, translucent Helikites tend to be slightly heavier than standard Helikites due to translucent materials being heavier than non-translucent ones – unless very expensive translucent materials are used. Also, for uses where the Helikite may be packed and unpacked many times a heavier grade of material may be desirable that adds weight. If the Helikite is to be used in areas of constant high winds, which increase the wear rate of rip-stop nylon, a heavier grade of rip-stop may be used that adds weight. Extreme cold: (below -15C). These temperatures occur in low latitudes and at heights above 15,000 ft. In these situations there will be different balloon material used which will be heavier or cost more. Precipitation: Rain, snow and ice will reduce the lift. Smaller Helikites are affected far more than the larger ones. The Vigilante and Lightweight Helikites will not fly if wet, however all Skyhook Helikites can fly when wet. Temperature, pressure and density effects: These figures are for standard temperature and pressure. They are to be used as an approximate guide only. In areas of great heat or humidity there will be slightly less lift. Equatorial regions have thinner air which also reduces lift. Obviously, the air at altitude is thinner so it lifts less too. Air pressure affects the pressure of wind upon Helikites, so at high altitude a higher wind may be tolerated than on the ground. Performance Comparison: Compared to standard sausage blimps of similar sizes, the vastly greater performance of Helikites becomes obvious. Normal aerostats have to be the size of a house to fly over 6000ft, but a Helikite needs to be only 3.3m3. The diagram below shows how much smaller Helikites are compared to standard tethered aerostats capable of flying in the same wind speed. A Helikite of only 2.5m3 can fly in a 35mph wind, for a normal shaped aerostat to do this it needs to be 25m3. Obviously the Helikite is far quicker and easier to use, less conspicuous, uses one tenth the gas and is far cheaper. Skyhook Helikite Standard Aerostat 3 2.5 m 25 m3