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Popular Mechanics, November 1994
Beachball Is Blimp
Newmarket, Ontario
The cigar shape of a traditional blimp may go up in smoke if a Canadian company's efforts pan out. A 43-ft.-dia. Sphere is now flying as the prototype for a concept launched by 21st Century Airships.
No steering rudders or altitude-changing flaps protrude from this airship's envelope. Instead, the pilot varies thrust from two outboard engines to turn left and right. To move up and down, vanes mounted behind the powerplants assume different angles.
In addition, the gondola is tucked away inside the sphere. Large tinted windows in the envelope provide panoramic visibility.
For lofting and landing the craft, the company needs only two ground workers. A 10-passenger version is now in the works, but the company believes the technology could lead to advertising blimps
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