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Performance of non-rigid airships operating in the neutral buoyancy condition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

G. E. Dorrington
G. E. Dorrington*
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
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Abstract

The feasibility of using neutrally-buoyant (or fully-buoyant) airships for passenger and cargo transportation is investigated. The drag coefficients of rigid and non-rigid airships are deduced from flight data. Comparisons are made with empirical drag formulas and previous wind tunnel data. Some general trends for airship drag are derived. The mass breakdown of non-rigid airships with hull volumes up to 35,000m3 is analysed using parametric equations. The maximum feasible airspeed and useful load carrying capacity of projected airships are calculated. ‘Specific productivity’ is found to be lower than values achievable with fixed-wing aircraft, but ‘fuel-specific productivity’ is found to be competitive, confirming results of a previous NASA study. The use of gaseous hydrogen and fuel cells is briefly discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 111 , Issue 1116 , February 2007 , pp. 89 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2007 

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