Airships

## Summary

Airships are a common form of transportation used globally. Typically powered by the lifting gas australium to power them floating above the Earths surface. Most major nations have operating airship companies and employ the vehicles for state use. Used primarily for passengers and expedited cargo transport, Airships, also known as dirigibles, have a wide variety of uses, also employed for weather an observation roles.

## Modern Design and Implementation

The size and design of a particular airship varies depending on its role, though many are capable of being retrofit to accommodate different needs. Every airship is classified into one of three categories; rigid, semi-rigid, or non-rigid, also called blimps. Most dirigibles in modern use are either rigid (Zeppelins), or semi-rigid. Blimps are typically employed in smaller vessels, common for roundabout sightseeing trips.

### Rigid

Rigid airships, also called Zeppelins for their inventor, are comprised of a solid frame, developed from duralumin or aluminum, and contain separate gas cells, large fabric sacks holding lifting gas. A fabric covering will then go over the frame and protect all inner-contents. These airships can thus be fully deflated of lifting gas and still support their own weight. Designing a dirigible in this method allows for a simpler and more robust construction, but will typically have more weight in order to support itself without lifting gas. These vessels also have the disadvantage of having less internal space for gas-cells, as the cells cannot be pressed against the outside hull as close. This also presents a safety in the gas cells, with them being fully self-contained and not affected by any hull-breaches.

### Semi-Rigid

These dirigibles a built with a duralumin of aluminum frame, similar to rigid vessels, but cannot support their own weight without being at least partially inflated. A fabric covering is stretched over the frame to protect the contents, and gas cells inside, when inflated, hold up the frame. These vessels comprise the vast majority of airships afloat today. Despite being more difficult to build and requiring larger construction bays, they are typically lighter than rigid ships without sacrificing space inside the hull.

### Non-Rigid

Blimps, or non-rigid airships, do not have gas cells, or particular frame, instead, they are simply a large balloon filled with lifting gas attached to a gondola which serves as the interior of the vessel. No structures can be within the hull as it any possible construction would breach the sealed gas container. These ships are typically cheaper to construct, and have more lifting power relative to their weight, as they have much larger gas cells relative to the size of gondola that a designer is capable of attaching to the balloon. These vessels are, though, less stable and near-impossible to maintain while in flight, as rudder and elevator lines are contained within the balloon, and having no human access available to the gas-cell. Any deflation of a blimp, will oftentimes, jeopardize its integrity, as all control surfaces are attached to the balloon, and rely on its shape to provide structure for their operation. For this reason blimps, similar to semi-rigid ships, are more difficult to construct, needing to be inflated during the construction process.

### Propulsion

Engines attached to the sides of the hull or gondola typically serve as propulsion for most modern airships. These engine cars generally contain internal-combustion engines inside of them, completely outside of the hull. Propellors are then attached to the engine car which provide lift and thrust for the vessel. Typically airship design places the engines in pairs opposite each other on the flanks of the hull, though some have been mounted below the hull, inline with the gondola of the craft.

### Structures

The internal structures of an airship are usually inside the hull, with gas cells surrounding rooms. Rooms are general built above the gondola towards the fore of the airship, though some have been built along the bottom keel, running from the fore to aft. Modern airships are capable of having up to three floors of full-size rooms above the gondola. This does however create a negative lifting force in the front of the ship which is often counteracted by placing the engines and elevators further aft, or increasing the rear weight of the vessel with water or other ballast.

## Early History and Development (1898-1915)

Airships began to be developed in the 1700s, with hot air balloons and eventually unutterable hydrogen filled balloons being developed into the early nineteenth century. After the discovery of australium, Airship development increased rapidly after the development and successful flight of LZ-1 by Ferdinand Von Zeppelin in 1898. Following this invention, dirigible development around the globe increased dramatically, alongside the explosion of the australium industry.

### Germany - Zeppelin Company

Following the rejection of the Zeppelin concept by the German government, Ferdinand von Zeppelin received private funding from the Association of German Engineers to create LZ-1 in 1898. This relatively small rigid airship was a success enough for further funding to be granted from the Association, and also to peak the interest of the Prussian Military. The dirigible stayed afloat at four-hundred feet for around one-hour, and demonstrated its ability to negate the effects of wind using one small engine-powered propellor under the hull of the vessel.

Ferdinand von Zeppelin continued to develop airships, though now with the funding of the German Government. LZ-2 was developed, a rigid airship, and rose to an altitude of five-hundred feet before navigating five miles in a circle back to its launch point under its own power; two Daimler combustion engines and propellors affixed to the sides of the hull. This dirigible was equipped with a gantry way within the hull connecting the gondola with the engines. The airship was turned by a rudder man in the stern turning the rudder with a wheel and pulley system connected to a separate portion of the vertical stabilizer. This vessel had not yet been fitted with horizontal stabilizers.

The LZ-3 was completed after the German Government requested that Zeppelin demonstrate the ability of an airship to maintain in navigable flight for twenty-four hours. This vessel was similar to the LZ-2 but was fitted with larger four-stroke engines, and a horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The ship was, however, destroyed in a storm after it broke loose from its moorings and was ripped apart after crashing into a nearby hangar and having its diesel fuel ignite. Despite this loss, public interest from the previous experiments remained high. Funding from various groups spurred the development of LZ-4, which successfully demonstrated the German Governments wishes and was sold to them in 1903.

### Britain - Royal Airship Company, Imperial Aeronautics

After the demonstration of LZ-1 in 1898, British engineers raced to compete agains the Germans, and many aviation enthusiasts and engineers submitted designs for rigid airships to the Government.

### United States - Lockheed, Bombardier Aeronautical, Western Airship Company, Martinez Aerial Corporation

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