Patent ID: 8061647

Claim:
A high altitude airship, comprising in combination: a substantially rigid keel having an elongate form between a fore and an aft; a pair of motor booms extending laterally from said keel and attached to said keel, said motor booms extending away from said keel on opposite sides of a centerline of said keel; a motor coupled to each motor boom on a portion of each said motor boom spaced from said keel; a propeller coupled to each said motor; at least two balloons, one of said balloons attached to said keel closer to said fore and one of said balloons coupled in fixed position to said keel closer to said aft; said balloons filled with a gas that is lighter than air at standard temperature and pressure, such that said balloons exert an upward force on the airship; said balloons each having a balloon surface with an inner side adjacent said gas with which said balloon is filled and an outer side opposite said inner side, said outer side adjacent atmosphere surrounding the airship and through which the airship is adapted to travel; and wherein each of said balloons is coupled to said keel through a cradle, said cradle adapted to pivot relative to said keel.