PILOT SPIN

Pilot Zone => Pilot Zone => Topic started by: PeterNSteinmetz on November 10, 2021, 02:02:14 PM

Title: New rigid airships
Post by: PeterNSteinmetz on November 10, 2021, 02:02:14 PM
Seems like it would be a fun ride. And maybe if there are more companies doing this obtaining a airship rating would be in reach of more pilots…

https://www.airspacemag.com/airspacemag/airships-rise-again-180978682/
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: President in Exile YOLT on November 10, 2021, 04:39:46 PM
Seems like it would be a fun ride. And maybe if there are more companies doing this obtaining a airship rating would be in reach of more pilots…

https://www.airspacemag.com/airspacemag/airships-rise-again-180978682/

Cool stuff. Materials science makes the difference in the viability of the airship.
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: Rush on November 10, 2021, 05:41:18 PM
It looks like a shark.
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: Jim Logajan on November 10, 2021, 07:48:15 PM
As the article notes, even with a viable airship their characteristics when compared to existing aircraft satisfy only certain market niches.

A bunch of years ago I studied the subject since I thought it would be neat to have a personal airship. It isn’t difficult to work out a basic design of, say, a hot-air airship. But not so easy to solve ground and air handling.

You can buy existing “small” non-rigid designs from a few manufacturers, though the few times I’ve seen prices has given me sticker shock.

There is a site for those interested in experimental lighter-than-air, but it hasn’t been updated in several years: http://www.xlta.org/ (http://www.xlta.org/) I had corresponded with one of its creators about 15 years ago but haven’t followed it since then.

I just checked and I currently own 10 books on airships and 4 on ballooning. Took a couple snapshots of those parts of my bookshelves.
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: Anthony on November 10, 2021, 08:18:43 PM
Neat concept.  I like the lifting body idea.  Very cool.  I hope they gain some traction.

Oh, the humanity!  (Someone had to say it)
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: PeterNSteinmetz on November 10, 2021, 08:41:38 PM

You can buy existing “small” non-rigid designs from a few manufacturers, though the few times I’ve seen prices has given me sticker shock.

One for sale down here in Tucson - https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Balloons++%7C++Airships&make=THUNDER+%26+COLT+LTD&model=COLT+AS-56&listing_id=2384906&s-type=aircraft
Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: Jim Logajan on November 10, 2021, 10:41:33 PM
One for sale down here in Tucson - https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Balloons++%7C++Airships&make=THUNDER+%26+COLT+LTD&model=COLT+AS-56&listing_id=2384906&s-type=aircraft

I think that is the same ad I stumbled across by accident there a few weeks or months back. Expensive for what you get. Worse, it’s registered under the Experimental Exhibition category which limits its utility a tiny bit.

One thing I learned back when I was considering designing and building my own was that a Commercial LTA rating doubles as a CFI and an Instrument rating for LTA. § 61.133(a)(2): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.133 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.133)

Back when I was working out design ideas I was still on Pilots of America and discovered a poster who had a Commercial with LTA rating. Flew for Goodyear and some other operators, IIRC. When I asked him if he would give me training, he said sure - I just needed to supply an airship. He would be willing to do so in an experimental airship designed and built by me. Obviously I never got around to taking him up on the offer.

Title: Re: New rigid airships
Post by: Steingar on November 11, 2021, 07:27:55 AM
Good luck flying those in any kind of adverse weather.  Always been the down side of airships.