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Flying, March 1993
Finless Blimping
As you can see from the photo here, this blimp is unusual in that, apart from having a seven-foot schnoz on one side, it is not the the traditional cigar shape, looking more like a hot-air balloon, and lacks the fins that normally provide steering. In their place are two engines, mounted either side of and halfway up the envelope, that can be tilted up or down or throttled asymmetrically to provide steering. A third engine with thrust deflectors behind the gondola serves as a backup for propulsion, steering and altitude control. Having thrust available for loiw-speed maneuvering removes at least two thorns from the side of a blimp pilot, who has to cope with the tendency of a conventional airship to lose control effectiveness as it approaches touchdown. Also all but one of the 12 - 22 person ground crew required to capture a conventional blimp are out of work with this ship.
Under development for the past 5 years by 21st Century Airships, of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, the finless blimp flew to 7,450 feet, setting nine class altitude records, using only the backup powerplant for propulsion and steering. For more details, contact Hokan Colting, chairman of 21st Century Airships, at (905) 898-6274.
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