Massive inflatable hangar designed by Per Lindstrand takes shape in California
It underwent its tests on a farmer’s field in Shropshire – and now the world’s largest largest inflatable building is standing tall in California.
The hangar is designed to house a giant airship at Goodyear’s headquarters in California.
And the firm turned to Oswestry-based adventurer Per Lindstrand to create it.
Executives from the company flew to Britain for the first look at the building back in the summer, when it was tested in fields just outside the Shropshire town.
The hanger was constructed from 73 miles of polyester at the Lindstrand Technologies factory in Oswestry – and is no small matter of 107 metres long, 32 metres wide and 25 metres high.
Now is is standing nine storeys tall on land along Interstate 405 south of Los Angeles in suburban Carson.
It will house Wingfoot Two, which began flying over college football games in Los Angeles in October.
Wingfoot Two, which is technically a dirigible rather than a blimp, is scheduled to leave its temporary home at Long Beach Airport and arrive in Carson, when it was due to enter its new home for the first time. Goodyear, which has long connections to the West Midlands, including its recently closed factory in Wolverhampton, has operated from the base in Carson since 1968 and plans to mark its 50th anniversary next year. The inflatable hangar is a far cheaper option than a traditional building and has the advantage of being able to be deflated and moved to a new locaiton if necessary.
Mr Lindstrand, who has made his name in the world of ballooning, has widened the work at his Oswestry factory to include inflatable structures.
He said the Goodyear hangar, which is produced using air cell technology, was a challenge simply because of the scale, adding: “If we laid the material out, it would stretch from Oswestry to Chester and back.”
The inflatable buildings produced by the firm range from small shelters for emergency zones and decontamination units to a roof for the Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station.
“Air cell structures are advanced constructions made with two layers of material with fabric formers in between. They are self-supporting by means of air fans with no need for foundations, hardware or guy wires. Air cell structures can be used in practically any environment and are ideally suited to both military and civilian applications,” Mr Lindstrand said.
