Royal International Air Tattoo and Hybrid Air Vehicles partner for landmark sustainable Airlander demonstration

Hybrid Air Vehicles announced a pioneering five-year corporate partnership with The Royal International Air Tattoo. As part of this agreement, Hybrid Air Vehicles plan to include its Airlander 10 in the flying display at the 2027 edition of RIAT. This announcement and planned demonstration are a significant step on RIAT plan to become a more sustainable event and exhibit new technologies that contribute towards the decarbonisation of the aerospace sector. Hybrid Air Vehicles, developed Airlander, an ultra-low emissions aircraft capable of delivering up to 90% emissions reduction across short-haul domestic transport, long-haul freight operations and long-endurance military logistics and surveillance. 

Starting with the 2022 show, RIAT has set a series of objectives to minimise the environmental impact of the event. As part of this drive, the show set an objective to showcase the technology and sustainability innovation in aerospace.  The 2022 edition of RIAT also marked the first-time electric light aircraft were exhibited at the show. Partnering with market-leading aerospace decarbonisation companies like Hybrid Air Vehicles is an excellent signal of the continuation of RIAT's net-zero pathway and decarbonisation intentions.  

RIAT is arranged by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) and attracts around 200,000 people over the weekend. Part of the agreement between HAV and RIAT will also see HAV more involved with the show’s focus on STEM careers and training, establishing the skills and talent pipeline needed for the UK’s aerospace sector to harness and develop new green opportunities like Airlander in the build up to 2027’s landmark flying display.

Kate McKinley, People and Sustainability Director at RAFCTE commented: "We are delighted to have partnered with Hybrid Air Vehicles in this way. For us, sustainability represents a huge area of responsibility. As an event we are determined to make clear, measurable, and positive changes to the way we work, to do the right thing. We are aware that these changes will not happen overnight, and we want to ensure that we make real lasting improvements to the way we work. In future we hope to establish ourselves as industry leaders in this area, and partnerships like this are a huge sign of intent.” 

Tom Grundy, CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles said: "Airlander rethinks the skies and changes perceptions of what is possible with aerospace, including in sustainability. Today's partnership with the Royal International Air Tattoo further strengthens Hybrid Air Vehicles' position as a leader in aerospace decarbonisation. Working with RIAT towards the 2027 edition, we look forward to exhibiting our ultra-low emissions Airlander at the world’s largest military airshow, and demonstrating first-hand its unique capabilities.

Airlander - an innovative hybrid aircraft that delivers efficient, cost-effective passenger transport, freight, and communications & surveillance services. It represents a new transportation category, between today’s fast, expensive, carbon-intensive air services and slower infrastructure-dependent surface transport, with significant application in defence. Airlander 10, which is planned to be demonstrated at RIAT 2027, is just the first of a planned ‘family’ of Airlander aircraft. Airlander 50, under development already, will increase the aircraft’s payload to 50+ tonnes, providing air connections for large or outsize loads such as shipping containers, critical infrastructure and materiel.”