AIRSHIPAIRSHIP

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IntroductionIntroduction

Airships or blimps are a Airships or blimps are a type of lighter-than-air type of lighter-than-air (LTA) craft(LTA) craft

Use a gas to generate lift, Use a gas to generate lift, like a hot air balloonlike a hot air balloon

Move forward through the Move forward through the air under their own power, air under their own power, like airplaneslike airplanes

Hover like helicopters, Hover like helicopters, travel in all kinds of travel in all kinds of weather and stay aloft for weather and stay aloft for daysdays

Inside an AirshipInside an Airship

envelope - contains the helium gas envelope - contains the helium gas nose cone battens nose cone battens forward ballonet forward ballonet aft ballonet aft ballonet catenary curtain catenary curtain suspension cables suspension cables flight control surfaces - rudders, elevators flight control surfaces - rudders, elevators engines engines air scoops air scoops air valves air valves helium valve helium valve gondola - holds passengers and crew gondola - holds passengers and crew

EnvelopeEnvelope

Large bag that holds the helium gasLarge bag that holds the helium gas

Cigar-shaped, for aerodynamic purposesCigar-shaped, for aerodynamic purposes

Made of a durable, airtight, lightweight fabric Made of a durable, airtight, lightweight fabric (polyester composites) (polyester composites)

Can hold from 1,900 to 7,093 m3 of helium, Can hold from 1,900 to 7,093 m3 of helium, depending upon the particular blimpdepending upon the particular blimp

The pressure inside the envelope is low, The pressure inside the envelope is low, approximately 0.005 ATMapproximately 0.005 ATM

Nose Cone BattensNose Cone Battens

Supports that radiate from the tip of Supports that radiate from the tip of the blimpthe blimp

Stiffen the front of the blimp so that Stiffen the front of the blimp so that it is not damaged when it is moored it is not damaged when it is moored to the mooring mastto the mooring mast

Give the nose an aerodynamic Give the nose an aerodynamic shape, and prevent it from pushing shape, and prevent it from pushing in as the blimp travels forward in as the blimp travels forward

The mooring hooks are located in The mooring hooks are located in the nose of the blimpthe nose of the blimp

Nose cone battens (gray)

BallonetsBallonets Air-filled bags located inside the envelopeAir-filled bags located inside the envelope The blimp has two ballonets, one fore and one aftThe blimp has two ballonets, one fore and one aft Because air is heavier than helium, the ballonets Because air is heavier than helium, the ballonets

are deflated or inflated with air to make the blimp are deflated or inflated with air to make the blimp ascend or descend, respectivelyascend or descend, respectively

Also used to control the trim, or levelness, of the Also used to control the trim, or levelness, of the blimpblimp

Helium ValveHelium Valve

Used to vent helium if the helium pressure exceed Used to vent helium if the helium pressure exceed its maximum safe limit its maximum safe limit

Can be opened manually or automatically Can be opened manually or automatically

Catenary Curtain and Suspension Catenary Curtain and Suspension CablesCables

Located inside the envelope along the length of the Located inside the envelope along the length of the blimpblimp

Made of fabric and sewn into the envelopeMade of fabric and sewn into the envelope Suspension cables attach them to the gondola Suspension cables attach them to the gondola Curtains help to support and shape the envelope and Curtains help to support and shape the envelope and

attach the gondolaattach the gondola

Flight Control SurfacesFlight Control Surfaces

Stiff, movable parts of the blimp that are mounted to Stiff, movable parts of the blimp that are mounted to the tail. the tail.

Consist of the rudder and elevators. Consist of the rudder and elevators. Rudder used to steer the blimp to the starboard or port Rudder used to steer the blimp to the starboard or port

directions directions Elevators used to control the angle of ascent or Elevators used to control the angle of ascent or

descent of the blimp. descent of the blimp.

EnginesEngines

The two engines provide the The two engines provide the thrust necessary to move aheadthrust necessary to move ahead

Turbo-propeller airplane engines Turbo-propeller airplane engines that use gasoline fuel and are that use gasoline fuel and are cooled by aircooled by air

Generate several hundred Generate several hundred horsepower, depending upon the horsepower, depending upon the particular blimpparticular blimp

Located on either side of the Located on either side of the gondolagondola

Blimps can cruise around 30 to Blimps can cruise around 30 to 70 mph (48 to 113 kph)70 mph (48 to 113 kph)

engines

air scoops

Air ScoopsAir Scoops Direct exhaust air from the propellers into Direct exhaust air from the propellers into

the ballonetsthe ballonets This is how the pilots can fill the ballonets This is how the pilots can fill the ballonets

with air while in flight with air while in flight When the engines are not running, When the engines are not running,

electric fans move air into the ballonetselectric fans move air into the ballonets

Air ValvesAir Valves

Vent air from the ballonets and add it Vent air from the ballonets and add it Located on each ballonetLocated on each ballonet Four valves -- two fore, two aft. Four valves -- two fore, two aft. Air valve of a blimp

Holds the passengers and crew Holds the passengers and crew Enclosed, and holds two pilots and up to 12 crewEnclosed, and holds two pilots and up to 12 crew Some have specialized equipment, such as a Some have specialized equipment, such as a

camera, attached to them camera, attached to them

Gondola

Blimp gondola with an attached camera (round object in front)

Forward view inside of gondola, showing pilot

seats/controls (front) and passenger seats

The control panels used by the pilots The control panels used by the pilots include the following: include the following:

Propeller controls Propeller controls Fuel mixture/heat Fuel mixture/heat Envelope pressure controls Envelope pressure controls CommunicationsCommunications Flight surface controls Flight surface controls Navigation equipmentNavigation equipment

How an Airship flies How an Airship flies The most common gas in use today is heliumThe most common gas in use today is helium

The ballonets act like ballast tanks holding "heavy" The ballonets act like ballast tanks holding "heavy" airair

When the blimp takes off, the pilot vents air from When the blimp takes off, the pilot vents air from

the ballonets through the air valvesthe ballonets through the air valves

The helium makes the blimp positively buoyant in The helium makes the blimp positively buoyant in the surrounding air, so the blimp risesthe surrounding air, so the blimp rises

The pilot throttles the engine and adjusts the The pilot throttles the engine and adjusts the

elevators to angle the blimp into the wind. elevators to angle the blimp into the wind.

The cone shape of the blimp also helps to generate The cone shape of the blimp also helps to generate liftlift

As the blimp rises, outside air pressure decreases As the blimp rises, outside air pressure decreases

and the helium in the envelope expandsand the helium in the envelope expands The pilots then pump air into the ballonets to The pilots then pump air into the ballonets to

maintain pressure against the heliummaintain pressure against the helium Adding air makes the blimp heavier, so to maintain Adding air makes the blimp heavier, so to maintain

a steady cruising altitude, the pilots must balance a steady cruising altitude, the pilots must balance the air-pressure with the helium-pressure to create the air-pressure with the helium-pressure to create neutral buoyancyneutral buoyancy

To level the blimp in flight, the air pressures To level the blimp in flight, the air pressures

between the fore and aft ballonets are adjusted.between the fore and aft ballonets are adjusted.

The engines provide forward and reverse thrust The engines provide forward and reverse thrust

while the rudder is used to steerwhile the rudder is used to steer To descend, the pilots fill the ballonets with airTo descend, the pilots fill the ballonets with air This increases the density of the blimp, making it This increases the density of the blimp, making it

negatively buoyant so that it descendsnegatively buoyant so that it descends The elevators are adjusted to control the angle of The elevators are adjusted to control the angle of

descentdescent When not in use, blimps are moored to a mooring When not in use, blimps are moored to a mooring

mast that is either out in the open or in a hangarmast that is either out in the open or in a hangar To move the blimp into or out of its hangar, a tractor To move the blimp into or out of its hangar, a tractor

tows the mooring mast with the blimp attached to ittows the mooring mast with the blimp attached to it

Uses of AirshipsUses of Airships

Airships can fly and hover without expending fuel or Airships can fly and hover without expending fuel or energy because gas provides the liftenergy because gas provides the lift

Airships can stay aloft much longer than airplanes or Airships can stay aloft much longer than airplanes or

helicoptershelicopters

Ideal for covering sporting events, advertising and some Ideal for covering sporting events, advertising and some research, like scouting for whales research, like scouting for whales

Used for lifting and/or transporting heavy cargo loads, like Used for lifting and/or transporting heavy cargo loads, like ships, tanks and oil rigs, for military and civilian purposesships, tanks and oil rigs, for military and civilian purposes

Modern airships use lightweight, carbon-composite frames Modern airships use lightweight, carbon-composite frames that allow them to be huge, light and structurally soundthat allow them to be huge, light and structurally sound

Used for tourismUsed for tourism

Types of AirshipsTypes of Airships Rigid airshipsRigid airships - usually long and cigar-shaped with an - usually long and cigar-shaped with an

internal metal frame and gas-filled bags. Example: internal metal frame and gas-filled bags. Example: Hindenburg Hindenburg

Non-rigid airshipsNon-rigid airships (blimps) - large gas-filled (blimps) - large gas-filled envelopes. Examples: Goodyear, MetLife, Fuji envelopes. Examples: Goodyear, MetLife, Fuji

Semi-rigid airships - Semi-rigid airships - pressurized gas balloon pressurized gas balloon (envelope) attached to a lower metal keel. Examples: (envelope) attached to a lower metal keel. Examples: Norge, Italia Norge, Italia

Metal-clad airshipsMetal-clad airships - a very thin, airtight metal - a very thin, airtight metal envelope. Examples: ZMC-2, City of Glendaleenvelope. Examples: ZMC-2, City of Glendale

Hybrid airship - Hybrid airship - obtain their lift from aerodynamic lift obtain their lift from aerodynamic lift and often require substantial take-off rolls before and often require substantial take-off rolls before becoming airborne. Examples: helicopter/airship becoming airborne. Examples: helicopter/airship hybridshybrids

Rigid, Semi-rigid and Non-rigid airship types

Proposed designs and Proposed designs and applicationsapplications

Aeros Corporation's continuation of the now canceled Aeros Corporation's continuation of the now canceled WALRUS projectWALRUS project

A hybrid airship that, while cruising, obtains two thirds of A hybrid airship that, while cruising, obtains two thirds of its lift from helium and the remaining third aerodynamic its lift from helium and the remaining third aerodynamic lift. Jets would be used during take-off and landinglift. Jets would be used during take-off and landing

As a medium to long distance air 'cruise ship' using helium As a medium to long distance air 'cruise ship' using helium as a lifting agentas a lifting agent

Spacious decks inside the hull to give ample room for Spacious decks inside the hull to give ample room for sitting, sleeping and recreationsitting, sleeping and recreation

Ample room for restaurants and similar facilitiesAmple room for restaurants and similar facilities

More leisurely journeys, such as cruises over scenic More leisurely journeys, such as cruises over scenic terrain.terrain.

ReferencesReferences www.myairship.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.howstuffworks.com

www.encyclopedia4u.com

www.airship.org

The Aeroscraft Airship is still just a concept

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