Pierpaolo Lazzarini is no stranger to pushing the boundaries when it comes to design concepts – whether it’s swan-inspired superyachts, crab-inspired catamarans, retro-futuristic flying cars or a city of floating pyramids. . Its latest effort, the Air Yacht, is designed to cruise the sea or skies in style, supported by twin helium-filled airships.
Eschewing the traditional big-balloon airship design, the Air Yacht is more like a giant catamaran, with two 492-foot-long (150 m) airships connected to a 262-foot-long (80 m) center deck via four carbon bridges on each side. The central deck is 10m wide and houses a master cabin with a 360 degree view, a large dining room and a living room. There are also windows on the outer edges of the airships, each containing five private cabins.
Lazzarini design studio
These twin carbon fiber airships also feature a honeycomb of cells, or “hives”, which contain 14.1 million feet3 (400,000 m3) of compressed helium allowing the craft to fly at 60 knots (69 mph, 111 km/h) for more than 48 hours, with eight counter-rotating electric rotors on the sides powered by ultra-lightweight batteries and adorning solar panels the tops of the airships.
Lazzarini design studio
The engines would also spin to push the airship down and land on water, with helium depressurization and a ballast anchor system keeping it on the water, where an “inflatable basement” keeps it afloat and allows it to travel at a speed of 5 kn (6 mph, 9 km/h). There’s also room for an optional (and why not!) helipad on top of the center deck to allow for travel to places that can’t accommodate a massive amphibious airship.
Lazzarini design studio
Lazzarini is not targeting tour operators with the design, but rather private owners. Considering the €550 million (US$629 million) asking price for such a vehicle should it materialize, that might be a pretty limited market – especially since most billionaires these days seem invest their money in vehicles that go a little higher. Still, none of that stops it from being a gorgeous design.
Source: Lazzarini design studio Going through international boat
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