R1m granted for rigid airship

PRETORIA -- A South African project to build the world's largest rigid commercial airship received a R1 million boost from the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday.

Confirming the grant -- a once-off donation -- the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) said the money was given in terms of its support programme for industrial innovation.

Spokesman Darryl Aberdein said in Johannesburg IDC experts had thoroughly evaluated the Hamilton Airship Company's project.

"We inspected the prototype they have developed, and are satisfied that the project is innovative and that they have a reasonable chance of commercialising it."

Company spokesman Philip Claasen said the cost of the first ship, dubbed Nelson, would be about R85m. "We hope to have it in the air before the end of next year."

The prototype is undergoing trials at Waterkloof air base near here. It has accumulated flying time of more than six hours with a crew of two.