Patent ID: 8418952

Claim:
A flight control system for an airship, the system comprising: one or more operator controls configured to receive operator input; a horizontal control surface associated with a horizontal stabilizing member; a vertical control surface associated with a vertical stabilizing member; and at least five propulsion assemblies, wherein: a first of the five propulsion assemblies is operably coupled to a support structure associated with the airship and located at a first location along a periphery associated with the airship; a second of the five propulsion assemblies is operably coupled to the support structure and located along the periphery at approximately 120 degrees with respect to the first propulsion assembly; a third of the five propulsion assemblies is operably coupled to the support structure and located along the periphery at approximately negative 120 degrees with respect to the first propulsion assembly; a fourth propulsion assembly configured to direct a thrust along an axis substantially parallel to a roll axis of the airship and substantially co-located with the second of the five propulsion assemblies; and a fifth propulsion assembly configured to direct a thrust along an axis substantially parallel to the roll axis of the airship and substantially co-located with the third of the five propulsion assemblies; and a processor configured to receive an input signal from the operator controls and generate a signal according to the input signal.