Investment Opportunity USS Enterprise Airship
Investment Opportunity USS Enterprise Airship
Commercial Airships

All today use helium to achieve buoyancy. For safety
reasons, hydrogen is not be used.

Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik in Germany manufactures a
semi-rigid type airship called the Zeppelin NT.
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A Zeppelin NT is stationed in the San Francisco area and takes out paying
passengers regularly at a rate of $375 per hour per person.
>90,000 passengers have taken a flight on a Zeppelin NT worldwide.
In May 2011 Goodyear announced it will be replacing its fleet of blimps with
three semi-rigid airships built by Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik.
Other companies around the world also offer rides on
airships to customers. For example, WDL Luftschiff in
Germany at a rate of $365 per hour per person.
The Gen0 Enterprise

The Gen0 Enterprise is an airship in the form of the
USS Enterprise from Star Trek.

Is a semi-rigid type airship, not a blimp. Will look like the
USS Enterprise from the movies, not an inflated balloon.

At 700’ in length, it will be the largest airship or aircraft
in the world today. Similar in size to the USS Enterprise
from the original Star Trek TV series.

All-electric engines will deliver 5000hp. Solar powered,
so is a “zero emissions” ship. Bonus: No fuel cost.
All Aboard!
Size
The Business

In the business of selling tickets to adventurous
passengers who would like to take a ride on an airship
that takes the form of the USS Enterprise, the iconic
spaceship from Star Trek

The Gen0 Enterprise airship has a 100 passenger
capacity.
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8 flights per day for the regular schedule. For example:
8AM, 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM, 8PM, and 10PM

800 passengers per day at peak capacity.
Connect to Culture

To maximize the appeal of the Enterprise, the ship will
be designed to dazzle.

In flight it will look nearly the same as the USS
Enterprise in the Star Trek movies.

A goal for the Gen0 Enterprise airship is that it quickly
becomes a cultural fixture in the US and also becomes
widely recognized internationally.
What a Ride!

During flights, the Enterprise will fly at an altitude of
approximately 1000 feet which is common for airships.

Flying at 1000 feet gives a spectacular view of the
ground below to passengers. Large windows, and
perhaps open windows too, will be included in the
Enterprise to enhance the viewing experience for
passengers.

The low-flying Enterprise will also create excitement for
those on the ground who spot it in the sky. This will
create more interest in the ship as well as leading to
more future passengers.
Where?

The Enterprise will be based somewhere with mild
weather and infrequent rainy days, as well as being
somewhere that the ship is easily accessible to
enthusiastic potential passengers.

An example of a potential location is Las Vegas.

Other candidates: Washington DC, New York City,
Houston, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los
Angeles
Who?

Star Trek fans, science & technology enthusiasts, and
aviation buffs will be interested in taking a ride on the
Enterprise.

However, the Enterprise is so recognizable in popular
culture that the average person will want to be a
passenger. People from the US as well as foreign visitors
will find the Enterprise airship enticing and want to take
a ride in it.
Other Income


Sell ad space on the Gen0 Enterprise. Has the potential
to significantly increase annual revenue.
Examples of ads on airships today:
Start-up Costs & Schedule

Goal is to raise $70 million total
• $60 million for ship development
• $5 million for ground facilities and equipment
• $5 million business costs until ship is operational & profitable

Competitive bidding will be used to help reduce ship
costs.

The goal is to have the Gen0 Enterprise take its maiden
voyage carrying passengers in 2018.
Regular Flights

The operational goal after accounting for weather,
maintenance work, and promotional activities is for the
Enterprise to be available for operation on regularly
scheduled flights 75% of the time during a year.

An example of this would be if the ship is making
scheduled flights on an average of 6 days per week over
46 weeks per year.

(6 x 46) / 365 days = 75%
Misc.

Besides making revenue from regularly scheduled flights
and being paid for placing advertising on the Gen0
Enterprise, other promotional activities can earn
revenue.
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Corporate leasing
Major sporting events, Super Bowl
Long distance flights, touring, north pole trip, other
Financial

Assumptions for deriving revenue generated in a year:
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
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$199 per ticket
8 flights per day
80 passengers per flight (100 person capacity x .80)
6 days per week in operation
46 weeks per year in operation
$10 million additional annual income for advertising
Annual revenue: $199 x 8 x 80 x 6 x 46 + $10M = $45 million
Estimated annual operating costs: $8 million
Gross income: $45 million - $8 million = $37 million
53% annual return on $70 million investment
• P/E = 28 for diversified entertainment
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Some comparisons: Six Flags P/E = 70, Walt Disney Company P/E = 17
Company value = 28 x $37 M = $1036 million
• Venture Capital Exit value = $1036M / $70M = 15X
•
Operating Costs
CEO
VP - CFO
VP - COO
Pilots
Marketing and Sales
Managers
Supervisors
Ground crew
Mechanics
Ticket Takers, misc. help
Flight Attendants
Rent
Utilities
Ship maintenance
Insurance
Marketing
Facilities/ground maintenance
Employee Travel Expenses
Entertainment, business meals
Office Supplies, misc. expenses
Qty
Base Pay
1
$ 500,000
1
$ 200,000
1
$ 200,000
10
$ 125,000
2
$
85,000
2
$
85,000
5
$
65,000
10
$
50,000
6
$
75,000
12
$
25,000
10
$
50,000
Total Employee Costs
Annual
Compensation
$
700,000
$
280,000
$
280,000
$
1,750,000
$
238,000
$
238,000
$
455,000
$
700,000
$
630,000
$
420,000
$
700,000
$
6,391,000
Months Per Month
12
$
12,000
12
$
4,000
12
$
50,000
12
$
30,000
12
$
10,000
12
$
7,500
12
$
10,000
12
$
5,000
12
$
5,000
Total Other Costs
Grand Total All Costs
Annual
Cost
144,000
48,000
600,000
360,000
120,000
90,000
120,000
60,000
60,000
1,602,000
7,993,000
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notes:
1) Annual employee compensation shown
includes a 1.4x factor to account for
employee benefits.
2) The total employee count is 60 persons.
Enterprise Media Attention

3.2 million page views since May 2012 for BuildTheEnterprise.org.

People are fascinated by the idea of the USS Enterprise.

Articles about the ideas at BuildTheEnterprise.org have appeared at
MSNBC, Fox News,Yahoo News, Daily MailOnline, the Huffington Post, The
Guardian, Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Times, Pop Sci,
Universe Today, Space.com, Wired Magazine, and more.

Front page of Yahoo News for 24 hours in July 2012. Held number one
headline slot for around 12 hours. Screen grab below.
Interested?

The Gen0 Enterprise airship has the potential for a high
return on investment.

Goal is to raise $70 million total
• $60 million for ship development
• $5 million for ground facilities and equipment
• $5 million business costs until ship is operational & profitable

Seeking investors
• Minimum of $500,000 investment
Request for Quote for the
USS Enterprise Airship
Business Request

Would like an investigation of the Gen0 Enterprise
airship that results in a quote.

Up to $200,000 available to pay for work to support the
quote if that is required.

Will be a competitive quote process.
Quote Contents
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In the quote, these items are requested:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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Gen0 Enterprise airship feasibility study
Concept design to meet requirements
Basic analysis and simulation results
Estimated % operational days per year
Maintenance cost per year
Annual insurance cost estimate
Total support crew for operational ship
Schedule quote
Cost quote
Also answer this question: Would you bid on building
the ship or do a “no bid”?
Performance Requirements
Gen0 Enterprise Airship Specs
Airship type
Airship appearance
Length
Lifting gas
Gas Volume
Lift
Passenger capacity
Max speed
Power
Solar cell efficiency
Solar electric power
Back up & boost power
Engines
Engines net power
Range
rigid or semi-rigid
USS Enterprise (Star Trek)
700 feet
helium
2.4 million cubic feet
245,000 pounds
100
100 mph (161 km/h)
thin film photovoltaic cells
15%
2.7 megawatts
lithium ion batteries
all electric
5000 hp
no limit
Quote Clarifications

The ship size (length and volume) can be adjusted and
optimized as needed to carry 100 passengers plus the
crew.
 To reduce cost, don’t want ship any bigger than it needs to be.

The 100mph goal is a stretch goal, not a rigid
requirement. Please consider this stretch goal but also
quote on a ship using conventional airship max speed.
More Requirements
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Thin-film solar cells must blend into the ship’s top
surface regarding the look for both texture and color.
Some specialized solar cell processing is expected.
Flat fins can be considered connected to the aux engine
hulls to increase solar cell area.
Consider adding dedicated electric engines for keeping
the aux engine hulls in place due to wind. (Don’t want
the goose necks to snap.)
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
This is a key part of the feasibility study.
A flexible joint is assumed at gooseneck connection points.
Five Key Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Can the ship, with its flat saucer hull and three tubular
engine hulls, be aerodynamically stable?
Can the three tubular engine hulls be made so that they
do no snap off at their goosenecks?
Are electric engines feasible?
Is a hangar needed?
Is solar power feasible?
Can solar cells be made with a texture and color that
blends into the ship?