Delhi Aerostat

Lindstrand Technologies

The Delhi Aerostat is a 22,000 cubic meter helium-filled aerostat measuring 80 meters long, 40 meters wide and 12 meters high. The aerostat was the centerpiece for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Our company was approached in January 2010 about the feasibility of making a helium-filled structure which would ‘float’ above a stadium in New Delhi as the centerpiece of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 19th Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010. The structure would perform a diverse range of duties including acting as a lifting body for displays and scenery, a huge projection surface and to carry lighting equipment.

The Delhi Aerostat is the largest tethered aerostat ever made, creating the world’s largest projection surface, and became the centerpiece for one of the greatest shows on earth watched by millions of people worldwide. The huge dimensions of the aerostat meant that it couldn't be shipped to India in a single piece. The main body is split in four sections and assembled on-site in Delhi. The aerostat incorporates four ballonets automatically operated by an advanced control system which constantly measures the status of the aerostat. Timing between the final event in the stadium and the closing ceremony was just 36 hours, meaning our team was allocated just 12 hours to reinstall the aerostat, something quite amazing for a structure of this size. The total aerostat structure uses nearly 10,000 square meters of fabric and around five kilometres of electrical cables to operate the various fans and valves required to maintain pressure in the aerostat.

The results were truly amazing. The world's largest tethered aerostat creates a fantastic, unique centerpiece for one of the world’s most prestigeous events, The Commonwealth Games.

Project details

Location: Delhi, India
Size: 80 m long by 40 m wide
Fabrics: Precontraint 402 by Ferrari S.A. from Ferrari S.A.
Design: Lee Barnfield, Lindstrand Technologies
Fabrication and Installation: Lindstrand USA / Lindstrand Technologies