Area firm works on military craft

A Portage County company said it is taking part in a U.S. Department of Defense project competition to demonstrate the feasibility of building a military airship capable of lifting 500 tons.

Ohio Airships Inc. of Mantua said it is building a two-seat, 120-foot Dynalifter prototype at Barber Airport in Alliance. Dynalifters are a hybrid of a winged aircraft and a helium airship.

The private company has been working for several years to develop a cargo aircraft to tap the ``middle market'' between slow, inexpensive cargo ships and fast, expensive planes.