The Cameron D-96 was the first hot air airship, a powered, steerable lighter-than-air craft carrying two or three crew marrying the elongated envelope of an airship with the externally localized heat source of a modern hot air balloon. It was designed and built in the UK and first flown in 1973.
Cameron Balloons had been producing hot air balloons for five years when they designed the world's first hot air airship or thermal airship.[1] This, the D-96, has much in common with the balloons, being a non-rigid airship, covered in a nylon fabric and with a propane burner to feed hot air into the envelope from a gondola suspended below it. However, it has the elongated body shape of conventional helium and hydrogen filled airships, airscrew propulsion and stabilizing tailfins. With a length to maximum diameter ratio of only about 2.5, the envelope is fatter than that of many airships. The D-96 is powered a 1.6 L Volkswagen engine, modified to run on propane so that engine and burner use the same fuel. Mounted at the rear of the gondola, this drives a large diameter, partly shrouded propeller. This gondola carries propane fuel and a double burner, the pilot and up to two passengers. Hot air is guided into the envelope by a small, funnel-like extension above the burners.[1]
On 4 January 1973 Don Cameron and Teddy Hall demonstrated the first D-96, registration G-BAMK, at the Icicle meeting at Newbury, Berkshire.[2] Some records state that this first flight was made on 7 January[1] or over the weekend of 6–7 January.[3] After some initial testing, Cameron's attention returned to balloon manufacture but interest in the airship was revived in 1976 by an order from the U.S.A. The early flights had revealed some directional stability problems, addressed by progressively increasing the number of tailfins. The instabilities were finally cured by a four-finned, cruciform arrangement, with the fins inflated by air from the propeller slipstream, fed from an intake with a tongue-like scoop through a passage along the keel. A rudder, operated from the gondola by cable, was added to the lower fin. At the same time the gondola suspension was improved so that it no longer distorted the envelope.[4]
Originally the D-96 had an envelope capacity of 96,000 cu ft (2,718 m³), as indicated by its name, but during 1978 the envelope was lengthened, increasing the volume by about 7%. This new envelope was used on subsequent production D-96s.[1][4]
Operational historyedit
16 D-96s had been built by January 1984 for customers across Europe, in Australia, Canada, U.S.A and Japan;[1] of these, eight appeared on the UK civil aircraft register, though they are all deregistered in 2012.[5] One of these is now on the 2010 French register; another D-96, not previously on the UK register is registered in Spain.[6]
Specifications (1984 version)edit
Data from Jane's All the world's Aircraft 1984-85[1]
Fuel capacity: 114 L (25 Imp gal; 30 US gal) in three cylinders[7]
Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen 126A[7] 1.6 L piston, modified to run on propane, 34 kW (45 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed Holfman HO14-183100LD, 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) diameter [7] semi-shrouded pusher
Performance
Maximum speed: 24 km/h (15 mph, 13 kn)
Range: 48 km (30 mi, 26 nmi) approximately.
Endurance: 2 h, in still air. Flight into wind results in cooling of the air in the envelope and the use of more fuel in compensation.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefTaylor, John W. R. (1984). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-1985. London: Jane's Publishing Co. pp. 734–5. ISBN0710608012.
^"British balloon and airship club handbook - Other notable flights" (PDF). p. 20. (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
^"Icicle history". from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
^ abc"The balloon makers". Flight. 111 (3561): 710. 11 June 1977. from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
^"D-96 on CAA register". Retrieved 1 September 2012.
^Partington, Dave (2010). European registers handbook 2010. Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN978-0-85130-425-0.
^ abcd(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-23. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
External linksedit
Cameron D-96 image
May 05, 2024
cameron, first, airship, powered, steerable, lighter, than, craft, carrying, three, crew, marrying, elongated, envelope, airship, with, externally, localized, heat, source, modern, balloon, designed, built, first, flown, 1973, role, airship, national, origin, . The Cameron D 96 was the first hot air airship a powered steerable lighter than air craft carrying two or three crew marrying the elongated envelope of an airship with the externally localized heat source of a modern hot air balloon It was designed and built in the UK and first flown in 1973 D 96 Role Hot air airship National origin United Kingdom Manufacturer Cameron Balloons First flight 7 January 1973 Number built 16 by January 1984 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 1984 version 4 References 5 External linksDesign and development editCameron Balloons had been producing hot air balloons for five years when they designed the world s first hot air airship or thermal airship 1 This the D 96 has much in common with the balloons being a non rigid airship covered in a nylon fabric and with a propane burner to feed hot air into the envelope from a gondola suspended below it However it has the elongated body shape of conventional helium and hydrogen filled airships airscrew propulsion and stabilizing tailfins With a length to maximum diameter ratio of only about 2 5 the envelope is fatter than that of many airships The D 96 is powered a 1 6 L Volkswagen engine modified to run on propane so that engine and burner use the same fuel Mounted at the rear of the gondola this drives a large diameter partly shrouded propeller This gondola carries propane fuel and a double burner the pilot and up to two passengers Hot air is guided into the envelope by a small funnel like extension above the burners 1 On 4 January 1973 Don Cameron and Teddy Hall demonstrated the first D 96 registration G BAMK at the Icicle meeting at Newbury Berkshire 2 Some records state that this first flight was made on 7 January 1 or over the weekend of 6 7 January 3 After some initial testing Cameron s attention returned to balloon manufacture but interest in the airship was revived in 1976 by an order from the U S A The early flights had revealed some directional stability problems addressed by progressively increasing the number of tailfins The instabilities were finally cured by a four finned cruciform arrangement with the fins inflated by air from the propeller slipstream fed from an intake with a tongue like scoop through a passage along the keel A rudder operated from the gondola by cable was added to the lower fin At the same time the gondola suspension was improved so that it no longer distorted the envelope 4 Originally the D 96 had an envelope capacity of 96 000 cu ft 2 718 m as indicated by its name but during 1978 the envelope was lengthened increasing the volume by about 7 This new envelope was used on subsequent production D 96s 1 4 Operational history edit16 D 96s had been built by January 1984 for customers across Europe in Australia Canada U S A and Japan 1 of these eight appeared on the UK civil aircraft register though they are all deregistered in 2012 5 One of these is now on the 2010 French register another D 96 not previously on the UK register is registered in Spain 6 Specifications 1984 version editData from Jane s All the world s Aircraft 1984 85 1 General characteristicsCrew One Capacity Two passengers Length 34 14 m 112 ft 0 in Diameter 13 72 m 45 ft 0 in maximum Volume 2 920 m3 103 000 cu ft Max takeoff weight 810 kg 1 786 lb 7 Fuel capacity 114 L 25 Imp gal 30 US gal in three cylinders 7 Powerplant 1 Volkswagen 126A 7 1 6 L piston modified to run on propane 34 kW 45 hp Propellers 2 bladed Holfman HO14 183100LD 1 83 m 6 ft 0 in diameter 7 semi shrouded pusher Performance Maximum speed 24 km h 15 mph 13 kn Range 48 km 30 mi 26 nmi approximately Endurance 2 h in still air Flight into wind results in cooling of the air in the envelope and the use of more fuel in compensation 4 References edit a b c d e f Taylor John W R 1984 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1984 1985 London Jane s Publishing Co pp 734 5 ISBN 0710608012 British balloon and airship club handbook Other notable flights PDF p 20 Archived PDF from the original on 23 September 2015 Retrieved 1 September 2012 Icicle history Archived from the original on 1 March 2012 Retrieved 1 September 2012 a b c The balloon makers Flight 111 3561 710 11 June 1977 Archived from the original on 6 March 2016 Retrieved 1 September 2012 D 96 on CAA register Retrieved 1 September 2012 Partington Dave 2010 European registers handbook 2010 Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 425 0 a b c d CAA technical data sheet PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2012 05 23 Retrieved 1 September 2012 External links editCameron D 96 image Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cameron D 96 amp oldid 1184510536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
