Patent ID: 7866601

Claim:
An airship comprising: a hull, which is substantially an oblate spheroid having a length, a width, and a height, wherein the length and the width have approximately the same dimension; one or more frame members defining a support structure, wherein the support structure forms at least a partial support for the hull; and an empennage assembly operably coupled to a lower surface of the airship, the empennage assembly including: at least one horizontal stabilizing member having a first end and a second end, wherein the at least one horizontal stabilizing member defines an anhedral configuration; and a vertical stabilizing member having a first end pivotally coupled to the airship and a second end oriented to remain below an upper surface of the airship, wherein the vertical stabilizing member is configured to pivot within a vertical plane, and wherein the first end of the vertical stabilizing member and the first end of the at least one horizontal stabilizing member are operably coupled to one another.