Huge Rigid Cargo Airship
AerosCraft Cargo Airship
A huge rigid cargo airship is being built in a WWII era hanger in Montebello, California by Worldwide Aeros. Once development has been completely the craft should be able to haul up to 66 tons of cargo all over the world for the U.S. military.
It would be really incredible if they built one for passenger service. With a payload capacity of 66 tons I would think they could outfit a ship with accommodations something like the old Graf Zeppelin, but more modern and slightly larger. Would really be a hell of a way to travel, eh?
Links:
» http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10015616.html
» http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-aeros-airship-tustin-20130104,0,799208.story
New Discovery Channel show, “What Destroyed the Hindenburg?”
Hindenburg Model Burning [Airships.net]
Dan Grossman, of Airships.net, participated in the project as a technical advisor and has posted a lot of cool photos on his site you should go check out! They used three large 80′ models, filled with actual hydrogen, for their testing. I can’t wait to check it out.
Links:
» http://www.airships.net/blog/discovery-channel-what-destroyed-the-hindenburg
» http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/what-destroyed-the-hindenburg-episode10-faq.htm
Rear Motor Gimbal Idea
Mounted Airship Engines (Close Up)
Recently someone suggested the model airship’s rear control surfaces would not work very well without any prop wash flowing over them. I had thought about that before, and have been wanting to design a system to gimbal the motors to provide some thrust vectoring and better control.
So I have begun working with ideas to move the two rear engines to help control the ship. The two forward engines will remain stationary and will only provide forward propulsion.
This is proving to be quite a challenge. I want to move both rear engines up/down and left/right, using only one actuator for up/down and one actuator for left/right, and keep the whole system extremely light weight. I’m not sure if I will be able to make it work using only two actuators, but that’s the plan for now. I’ll post some drawings once I come up with a workable idea, hopefully soon!
Hidenburg Disaster – 75 Years Ago Today
Hindenburg over New York City (1937)
The giant airship Hindenburg was destroyed in a landing accident at Lakehurst, New Jersey 75 years ago today.
Sometimes I wonder what might have been had the U.S. shared it’s helium resources with the Zeppelin Company. The ship was originally designed to use helium as it’s lifting gas, but at the time helium was rare and the main source of it came from the United States, but the U.S. would not export any to Germany.
It’s such a shame that this disaster pretty much halted any future large rigid airship design. It must have been such an incredible way to travel, almost like a fine hotel, but with a much better view! Air travel has went downhill ever since the giant airships stopped flying.
Links:
I haven’t forgotten about the Airship project
Just wanted to make a quick post to say that I have not forgotten about the R/C model airship project! Due to a recent move, the Mac (where I run Sketchup) dying, and some other stuff going on it has just been delayed. But I will be getting back to it soon, I promise! 🙂
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Oh, and Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is an incredible year for all of you.
