Aircraft General Discussion

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Andrew,

They were/are offering flights in the airship, in fact my Daughter entered my Email into a competition for a prize of a flight but some other lucky bugger got it.

My bucket list is that I would love a ride in a fast military jet, a hot air balloon, a B17 flight, an Airship ride and a parachute jump though the parachute would need to be one that is used to drop vehicles due to my slight figure

Martin P

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Sounds as if it was originally intended for long term, high altitude surveillance rather than cargo carrying. Although these boys are valiantly persevering with the project, I can't help thinking it's a bit of a flawed concept in its current form. Must be an incredible thing to experience though. Ride it while you can!

[Peter TuckerParticipant @petertucker86088]

Posted by Muzzer on 18/08/2016 14:53:35:

What I don't understand is what happens to the balloon (aircraft?) once it has dropped off its cargo. Does it fly off uncontrolledly up to the edge of space or do you have to swap the cargo for a load of dead weight? Seems a bit of a logistical issue to me. Obviously there must be a lot of cost involved in filling that thing up with helium and you can't go jettisoning a lot of it when you dump the cargo.

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious? If they use water as a disposable ballast, that's neither free nor necessarily convenient.

Hi Muzzer,

My experience of airships is 0, however my understanding is that when they are being loaded/unloaded they are tethered (anchored). Also (my understanding) buoyancy is controlled by compressing/decompressing the flotation gas.

Peter.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

From what i've read on the subject and seen at Cardington you carry water as ballast to give a neutral balance, if you carry a load then the weight replaces the ballast and when you have delivered the load you top up the ballast, modern airships are to a degree aerodynamic and aid lift, in a small way and the engines can be swiveled from horizontal to past vertical to aid raising or lowering the airship and finally the last thing that can be done is dump the lifting gas, this is both a one way trip and expensive as helium is becoming a rare gas.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Follow the link:-
**LINK**

Aerodynamic lift 40%
Boyant lift 60%
Vectored thrust +- 25%

Now …. Let me see That's 125%, so I will leave it to someone else to explain that.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 18/08/2016 21:02:02:

Follow the link:-
**LINK**

Aerodynamic lift 40%
Boyant lift 60%
Vectored thrust +- 25%

Now …. Let me see That's 125%, so I will leave it to someone else to explain that.

I imagine that means it can fly level when moving forwards, and rise or fall using the vectored thrust.

Suggests that you need to find enough forward movement for 15% lift from aerodynamics to take off.

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Lift the nose, then push!?

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Watching the evening news it seems that the Airlander damaged its cabin today, thankfully there did not seem to be reports of any injuries.

The report reckoned the Airship will be out of action for repairs.

I expect the news will be all over the internet by now.

Edited By V8Eng on 24/08/2016 19:51:55

[Anonymous]

Bit of an oooopsie.

Andrew

[DrDaveParticipant @drdave]

ITV and BBC were doing live interviews in front of the steaming remains this evening. I hope the damage is little more than the airship equivalent of a "bloody nose".

Talking of airships from Cardington that have flown into the ground… There is a memorial in the village graveyard to the lost souls from the R101 and the ensign, now a bit tatty & moth-eaten, is in the church. We visited the office of Bedford's Mayor a few years ago: there is a silver tray from the R101 in the display cabinet. One edge has melted back from the heat of the fire. History all around!

Dave

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Sounds like they didn't find the mythical field full of long grass for their flight tests

Neil

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Perhaps it should be renamed "Noselander".

Any better suggestions?

Russell.

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/08/2016 12:06:00:

Sounds like they didn't find the mythical field full of long grass for their flight tests

Neil

Some of the investors may find that long grass a better place to park the project if this isn't fixed….

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Take a look at these!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3598540/The-Photographer-captures-pin-sharp-images-final-55-airworthy-Spitfires-using-just-handheld-camera.html

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Superb photos coupled with the Daily Wail's usual lamentable editing/grammar informing us of a PackHard(sic) Merlin powered pilot!! Well, well !!

rgds

Bill

[Ian AbbottParticipant @ianabbott31222]

Seeing the Rolls Royce Spitfire reminded me of when I was much younger than now and we lived on the approach to Hucknall. Lots of odd aircraft flying over with strange engines. But best of all, an almost daily Spitfire on finals. Their idea of an executive jet I guess. Later we used to drop in there when we did cross country exercises, but the Royce side of the field was off limits. Anyone know where they keep the spitfire now?

Ian

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Rolls Royce's PR Mk XIX Spitfire PS-853 / G-RRGN, has a hanger at East Midland airport near Derby.
Ian S C

[Ian AbbottParticipant @ianabbott31222]

Thanks Ian. Not sure when I'll be in England again, international air flights are getting to be a pain (literally) nowadays. Well, I guess the flights are ok, it's the bits at each end that do me in.

Ian

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

My last time in UK was 1984, I don't even have a Passport these days, so i'll stay here in Kiwi land for now.

The next Mossie ( TV 959/ ZK-FHC) is due to fly, but it's American owner is a bit shy about publicity.

Ian S C

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ian S C on 30/08/2016 16:58:50:

Rolls Royce's PR Mk XIX Spitfire PS-853 / G-RRGN, has a hanger at East Midland airport near Derby.
Ian S C

You'll be in trouble, it's nearer Nottingham!

Neil

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

A bit like London Oxford Airport then? 

Edited By V8Eng on 31/08/2016 13:32:05

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 31/08/2016 13:03:28:

You'll be in trouble, it's nearer Nottingham!

Neil

.

In which alternative reality is that ^^^, Neil ?

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Spitfires. Hmmm. Just did a search of two museums around Ottawa, Canada, and it looks like there are 5 Spitfires within a 20 minute drive of each other (some in flying condition), with a 6th on loan to a museum in Hamilton, Canada (the museum that has that "other" flying Lancaster) I don't know if there are other Spitfires in Canada, other than these 6.

Ottawa is home to the Canadian Aviation Museum (3 Spitfires on the books, but one loaned, as above), but there is also a private museum very close by (across the Ottawa River) that is privately owned and operated. It seems very interesting, but have never been: vintagewings.ca – link:

**LINK**

I should make the time to go and visit both museums, and the one in Hamilton when I am in that area again – this thread has shown me that I do have an interest in this field (surprisingly to me!)

[Ian AbbottParticipant @ianabbott31222]

Before East Midlands became really busy we used to follow the M1 up to Nottingham. We were based at Tollerton, so, turn right at the railway lines, then left to line up for the circuit, can't remember the landmark now. Anyway, I remember being quite nervous when I could see the East midland runway lights out of the window.

Oxford (Kiddlington) was grass in the sixties, don't know what it is now, but one day the field was a bit wet, so the tower said use the peri track. it was a bit odd taking off on a curved runway and they hadn't mentioned that the track ended in a big earth berm….. I'm sure I felt the wheels run over it. Things get a bit hazy nowadays, but I do remember clearly that bowel loosening moment. I should have a look on Google Earth to see if I can figure out exactly where that was on the airfield.

Ian

[Author]

Posts