Airships, Blimps, anyone anyone

  • Thread starter Thread starter dingpud
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Members are discussing DIY projects involving airships and blimps, expressing interest in building more durable models suitable for outdoor use. There is a focus on the challenges of creating effective envelopes, with suggestions for using mylar balloons packed into a bag for lift, as well as considerations for sealing and material strength. The conversation highlights the need for a lightweight yet strong fabric, with mentions of BoPET and nylon as potential materials. Participants are exploring various designs and shapes for gas cells to optimize stability and lift. Overall, the thread emphasizes a shared enthusiasm for airship construction and the quest for practical solutions in DIY airship projects.
  • #31
mugaliens said:
Tell you what - let's prototype it after the GZ-20, the current model of Goodyear Blimps. It had a 45 ft diameter cylinder, with a length of 192 feet. It has two Continental IO-360 engines rated at 210 hp each, which give it a max velocity of 50 mph. That's a total of 314 kW, which gives us something to shoot for, solar panel-wise.

Let's de-rate it at bit, to just 300 kW, and a max velocity of 40 mph

Even if we were to cover the entire top half with solar cells, the effective area would only be approximately 2,700 square feet (rough estimate, only). Is that enough to generate 300 kW using modern solar cells?

Uh...what happened to working with a small prototype? I don't have the resources to build a full sized aircraft.
 
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  • #32
Lancelot59 said:
Uh...what happened to working with a small prototype? I don't have the resources to build a full sized aircraft.

On paper! Just the calcs...
 
  • #33
mugaliens said:
On paper! Just the calcs...

You had me worried there for a sec.