Nikki is the one we are interested in, forget Betty Vicki and Lucy

Australian company to bring flying saucer like designs to UAS world.

The business plan includes a sensible development programme that started with the creation of a small ‘mini’ SkyLifter as a lab test model to demonstrate the principles of the aircraft’s arrangement. That project was called ‘Betty’ and more detail is on the next page.

On the success of Betty, a larger, tethered aerostat system (project name, Vikki) has been built to demonstrate ground handling and aerostat behaviour.

The next stage of development will take a Vikki and add propulsion and flight control systems to create a free-flying ‘mini’ SkyLifter (Nikki). This proof-of-concept technology demonstrator will further validate SkyLifter capability and give the financial markets confidence to invest in a full-size 150 metre diameter piloted SkyLifter (Lucy). Nikki can be commercialised as an unmanned remote-controlled aerial platform (UAV).

Consideration was given to the development of an intermediate size between Nikki and Lucy and an analysis of the costs was done comparing the building of say a SL75 against the costs of an SL150. It shows the fixed costs to be very similar with only the variable costs, of material and production, to be just a little more. So it makes sense to produce the larger SL150 aircraft which will also demonstrate much greater capability.

The aircraft are designed to take off where helicopters leave off, with vertical pick-up and delivery capability of over-size, fragile or bulky items up to 150 tonnes and, on a case by case basis, potentially more. The business focuses on using an aerial crane to transport large self-contained accommodation modules but these aircraft may also be used to transport payloads of equipment, freight and other loads that are currently impossible to pick up and fly.

More information http://www.skylifter.com.au