Flight Design’s New Hangar

Jan 2022

Flight Design and Bland Shire Council are partnering to bring high technology flight systems to the region. Our core team have10 years of launching high altitude balloons in the region and have shown that this area is ideal for launch and recovery of payloads of different types. More recently drone technology has developed at a scorching rate. As a progressive R&D company, Flight Design have been looking at ways of accelerating our opportunities and those of our Partners. Flight Design have extensive experience with building and flying drones. Many of the team have CASA licenses to fly commercial drone flights and commercial high altitude balloon flights.

Bland Shire Council has been looking at ways to help us grow and thus help them with new job opportunities for their residents. This last week they provided us with a brand new council owned hangar at their airport at West Wyalong. We have access to most of the hangar that measures 33m by 22m. Its 8.5 metres at the roof’s peak and 6.5m at the walls. How big is that? I estimate that we could park about 18 double deck uses.

The area in front of the hangar will be having a second seal when the weather cools. The hangar doors open to he sides to provide full access to the entire width of the front (33m). The council also provided a small building in the rear corner that has a toilet and shower, an office and a kitchen. There will be a meeting and workroom as well to allow from large projects and training. Flight Design will also be establishing a “clean room”. A clean room is a sealed room with pressurised filtered air. This stops dust from entering the room. Important for working with super thin balloon material and sensitive electronics. The Hangar will also be used for a drone and balloon workshop.

The trucks and trailers will be out soon. There is a lot of building going on and the hangar is not finished internally. Exciting days ahead as we expand to build our large balloon with propulsion. A great place to build anything. The floor is smooth and we will be conducting tests inside the hangar, away from the rough surface outside the hangar. Soon the road will be finalised at the rear of the hangar, helping minimise the dust in the area.