Aerophile SAS

Aerophile SAS is a Public limited company founded in 1993 by Jérôme Giacomoni and Matthieu Gobbi, engineers from the École Polytechnique, for the development and operation of tethered helium balloons.

Headquartered in Paris, France, the tethered gas balloons operate as tourist attractions around the world. The company has sold more than 60 balloons in 30 countries.

In 1994, they installed their first large tethered balloon in Chantilly, France) and in 1998, Aerophile celebrated its first flight to an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft). In 1999, the company launched the large Paris Balloon and improved it in 2008 by adding a lighting system.

In 2000, the company created a mobile tethered balloon approved to carry two people to a height of 90 metres (300 ft): the Aero2.

In 2002 they operated the first modern tethered gas balloon on a water-based platform at Neuchâtel.

In 2005 the company installed a large PanoraMagique balloon, operated by a subsidiary Aerotourism, at Disneyland Paris, it was the first 8-point Aero30NG balloon.

In 2007, they set up and opened the first Aerophare in Evry 2 (France), an attraction with an air-filled captive balloon within a 54 metres (177 ft) tower. Aerophare is a novel adaptation of a tethered balloon operating in an enclosed tower.

Aerophare, Evry2, France

An Aerophile balloon holds the record for carrying 30 passengers in a gas balloon.

Ballon Generali taking off

The company runs six Aero30NG: Paris Balloon, one at Disneyland Paris, one in Walt Disney World Resort, one in the Orange County Great Park, one in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and one Aerobar, the latest creation, at Futuroscope.

Balloons:

The Aero30NG
This tethered balloon 22,5 meters in diameter can receive up to 30 people at a time in its nacelle and can rise up to 300 metres (980 ft). Its winch system ensures a climb speed of 0.8 m / s and its patented platform optimizes landings.
This balloon has been installed over the 5 continents : France :Château de Cheverny, Château de Chantilly, Bordeaux, Beaune, Parc de Samara, Paris Balloon and Disneyland Paris, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Tunisia, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Cambodia (Angkor Wat), Thailand, Singapore and Australia. Ocean Park Hong Kong, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, This model has also been adapted to allow parachute jumps as part of military training in Yemen.

Aero2
This is a charged helium balloon of 9 meters in diameter which offers a view to two passengers to around 90m above ground. The moored balloon can be seen at 10 kilomètres around. This balloon has been used as a marketing tool for Danao Tour in 2002 but also by Fortis and throughout France.

Aerophare
The Aerophare is a balloon operating within a 54 metres (177 ft) tower structure. The structure allows it to operate worse weather than a conventional tethered balloon.

Aerobar
The first aerial bar of the world. This new concept allows 15 persons to rise up to 120 feet in the sky while enjoying their favorite drink. Visitors are experiencing a triple emotion: the chills of seeing the ground away from their feet, great view while discovering the scenery and the canopy of heaven meeting the earth on 360° and the conviviality with the other passengers that share a drink aboard this aerial bar. The first Aerobar is installed in Futuroscope, second largest theme park in France.

21st Century Airships SPAS-70

The 21st Century airship SPAS-70 pre-production model is used for type certification.

An SPAS-70 type and registered C-FYOK (named ‘Earth’), it has a volume of 91,000 cu.ft. (2,595 cu.m.). This ship is a 56′ (17.05 m.) diameter sphere which seats the pilot and 3 passengers. This airship is powered by four 100 hp. engines.

The first test flight with SPAS-70 was made on August 8, 1997.

21st Century Airships SPAS 13

The semi-rigid helium SPAS 13 was a development of the earlier SPAS 1 and was designed to demonstrate the advantages of a spherical airship. The 43 ft (13.11 m) diameter spherical envelope is made of Spectra fabric with an inner helium containing envelope of Mylar film reinforced with Kevlar. The two-seat cockpit is internal to the envelope with panoramic windows in the envelope to provide an external view.

The SPAS 13 is powered by two 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 piston engines on external struts, four vanes behind each engine are used to provide control by deflecting the thrust.

The first flight was on 13 May 1994.

Engines: 2 × Rotax 503, 50 hp (37 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed, 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) diameter
Diameter: 43 ft 0 in (13.11 m)
Height: 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m) includes landing gear
Empty weight: 1,596 lb (724 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,403 lb (1,090 kg)
Maximum speed: 30 mph; 48 km/h (26 kn)
Cruise speed: 19 mph; 31 km/h (16.5 kn)
Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 1 passenger