-
Building an airship/blimp using Flex or pvc material
Hi all,
Does someone has an idea about how to design,print,cut and assemble a Flex or PVC based Helium filled blimp about 30M in length with printed/tiled promotional graphics?
What kind of software or equipment would be required for it?
A fan based RC control assy for blimps to control it in the air as well a helium pressure release apparatus to maintain required altitude would then be installed at the lower end of the blimp finally.
I have refelcted on this project and in my belief it is quite practical,however one has to take heed of govt fllight restrictions and the weather forecast before you launch,
especially daily wind speed updates 😀
Even if none of my customers agree to pay for this enterprise,I just want to build one for my own sport.Usman Khan
-
9 Replies
-
Usman, we are signmakers, not aeronautical engineers.
I live close to cardington, do a search and you may find that a 30m blimp is quite expensive. ( the oiginal R101 I believe was on route to asia, when it crashed near Paris?)You could start here
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/w … sation.htm
Peter
-
I haven’t a clue either – but it sounds like an exciting project (and something that inspires you) to do so go ahead and do it I say 😀
You’ve probably got more information at your disposal now (with the internet) than anyone else would have had at any time in the past – so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to achieve your goal.
Good luck 😀
-
30m long – that’s going to need some kind of fan!
I think I’ll stick to flying my hot air balloon! 😀
-
quote Chris Dowd:I think I’ll stick to flying my hot air balloon! 😀i was away to say….’can i get a shot of your balloon’ then changed my mind…. 😮 thought you were maybe taking the pi$$ 😉
nik
-
quote Nicola Rowlands:quote Chris Dowd:I think I’ll stick to flying my hot air balloon! 😀
i was away to say….’can i get a shot of your balloon’ then changed my mind…. 😮 thought you were maybe taking the pi$$ 😉
nik
Have to dig some pics out Nik. Been flying Balloons for almost 10 years now (not so much lately as the business takes too much of my time).
-
Chris,its good to know that you have been flying baloons.did you build your own when you used to fly?
Perhaps I can build a 30 feet long to start with 🙂
I saw some vector/CAD files available for download once on the net to build a 30 feet long blimp.So I guess all one needs to do is to have a cutting plotter with a strong enough cutting force to cut flex or similar PVC material.Yes!Joining the tiles might turn out to be a major problem with hot air bonding.But that could be overcome with experimentation I guess.The reason I posted this question on a graphics site is because there are graphics companies in both UK and US making look alike flex or PVC based commercial product advertising mock ups for their customers such as air filled giant beer cans,sauce bottles etc.
The answer on how to do that would greatly help.
Usman Khan
-
Here’s a link I found
http://www.theartofair.com/cat5_1.htm -
quote Usman Khan:Chris,its good to know that you have been flying baloons.did you build your own when you used to fly?
Hmmmmm……. no!
Balloons and airships are officially governed by the CAA in this country and must undergo regular C of A’s (certificate of airworthiness), likewise the CAA issue licenses (PPLB for balloons).
Chris
-
quote Chris Dowd:Have to dig some pics out Nik. Been flying Balloons for almost 10 years now
that would be good chris..look forward to seeing them, its always fasinated me..but not got the bottle to do it 😕
nik
Log in to reply.