Massive electric aircraft, bigger than Goodyear blimp, has first test flight before coming to Akron

More than 2,500 miles away from Akron in Silicon Valley, what engineers say is the world's largest airship took flight last week for the first time. This massive snow-white zeppelin-like ship is slated to soar across the skies and land in the Rubber City at a yet-to-be-determined time.

Called Pathfinder 1, the electric prototype was created by engineers and developers at LTA Research, Lighter Than Air, to test a different form of climate-friendly air travel.

Pathfinder 1:Largest airship built in United States since 1930s to take shape soon inside Akron Airdock

This comes roughly one year after LTA announced it would begin producing airships in Akron, taking the city back to its roots as a maker of blimps. The company did not respond to an email request for comments.

The electric aircraft took 10 years to develop, is larger than three Boeing 737s and is estimated to carry more cargo than a Boeing 737, LTA Research CEO Alan Weston told TechCrunch, a science and technology publication.

It uses drone technology like fly-by-wire controls for better handling, electric motors and lidar sensors, but unlike drones, this is on a much larger scale, according to the LTA Research website.

Backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, the airship must complete more flight tests during the next year before it can embark on the eastward journey to Akron.

At 124.5 meters long, according to TechCrunch, Pathfinder 1 is much larger than Goodyear blimps that measure in at 75 meters.

Lighter Than Air Research hopes to use this aircraft to provide disaster relief where roads and airports are damaged. If all goes to plan this will be the first in a line of Pathfinders. Once in Akron, LTA Research hopes to build a bigger airship called the Pathfinder 3 that will clock in at 182 meters long.

Learning from history

This aircraft is similar to another holder of the largest airship made — the ill-fated 245-meter Hindenburg.

Roughly 90 years ago, that zeppelin ferried passengers across the Atlantic Ocean and flew upward of 84 mph.

Its story came to a firey and deadly end when on May 6, 1937, in Lakehurst, New Jersey, the hydrogen-filled craft caught fire due to electrical static discharge, according to the National Air and Space Museum. Of the 97 people on board, 36 died. Within 30 seconds, the airship was engulfed in flames and destroyed.

Unlike its fatal predecessor, the Pathfinder 1 has 13 helium bags, according to the LTA Research website. Helium, unlike hydrogen, is non-flammable and safer to use. The helium bags are then sealed in the massive non-flammable blimp-like structure that makes up much of the craft.

These bags are made of ripstop nylon, which is often found in sails, tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor products, and is covered by urethane, a sealant, according to the website.

To learn more about Pathfinder 1 visit, the Lighter Than Air Research website for an interactive guide to the aircraft.