The Loral GZ-22 (also known as the Goodyear GZ-22) was a class of non-rigid airship, or blimp first flown in 1989 and operated by Goodyear as its flagship promotional aircraft, with civil registrationN4A and christened Spirit of Akron. This was the only airship of this class ever built.[1] Goodyear originally designed the GZ-22 to demonstrate the possible renewed use of airships to the United States Navy, which had ended their airship operations in 1962. The GZ-22 was designed by Goodyear, but built by Loral after Goodyear sold its aerospace division to Loral in 1987.[1] The GZ-22 had a steel-framed, composite-skinned gondola under a neoprene-impregnated polyester 2-ply envelope, inflated with helium.[1] At its launch in 1987, the 205-foot 6-inch long Spirit of Akron was the longest airship in service at that time.[2] The GZ-22 Type Certificate was issued on 31 August 1989.[3]
On 28 October 1999, the Spirit of Akron suddenly entered an uncontrolled left turn and began descending over Suffield Township, Ohio, crashing into trees and sustaining severe damage. The pilot and technician on board received minor injuries. The NTSB report on the crash identified improperly hardened metal splines on the control actuators had sheared, causing loss of control and identified the probable cause as being failure by the "flight control system manufacturer to meet design (hardness) specifications".[4]
The control car of the Spirit of Akron is on display at the MAPS Air Museum.[5]
^"Type Certificate Data Sheet No.AS1GL Lockheed Martin (Loral) GZ-22" (PDF). Federal Aviation Authority. 1 October 1997. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
^"Aircraft: Loral Corp. GZ-22, registration: N4A". National Transportation Safety Board. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
^Elliott, Dave (10 January 2018). "LORAL GZ-22 "SPIRIT OF AKRON"". MAPS Air Museum. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
Bibliography
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1996). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory. London, England: Brassey's. ISBN1-85753-198-1.
January 26, 2023
loral, also, known, goodyear, class, rigid, airship, blimp, first, flown, 1989, operated, goodyear, flagship, promotional, aircraft, with, civil, registration, christened, spirit, akron, this, only, airship, this, class, ever, built, goodyear, originally, desi. The Loral GZ 22 also known as the Goodyear GZ 22 was a class of non rigid airship or blimp first flown in 1989 and operated by Goodyear as its flagship promotional aircraft with civil registration N4A and christened Spirit of Akron This was the only airship of this class ever built 1 Goodyear originally designed the GZ 22 to demonstrate the possible renewed use of airships to the United States Navy which had ended their airship operations in 1962 The GZ 22 was designed by Goodyear but built by Loral after Goodyear sold its aerospace division to Loral in 1987 1 The GZ 22 had a steel framed composite skinned gondola under a neoprene impregnated polyester 2 ply envelope inflated with helium 1 At its launch in 1987 the 205 foot 6 inch long Spirit of Akron was the longest airship in service at that time 2 The GZ 22 Type Certificate was issued on 31 August 1989 3 GZ 22 Spirit of AkronRole non rigid airshipNational origin United StatesManufacturer Loral CorporationDesigner GoodyearFirst flight 1989Primary user Goodyear Tire and Rubber CompanyNumber built 1On 28 October 1999 the Spirit of Akron suddenly entered an uncontrolled left turn and began descending over Suffield Township Ohio crashing into trees and sustaining severe damage The pilot and technician on board received minor injuries The NTSB report on the crash identified improperly hardened metal splines on the control actuators had sheared causing loss of control and identified the probable cause as being failure by the flight control system manufacturer to meet design hardness specifications 4 The control car of the Spirit of Akron is on display at the MAPS Air Museum 5 Contents 1 Specifications 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 BibliographySpecifications EditData from 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 10 passengers Length 205 ft 6 in 62 64 m Width 47 ft 0 in 14 33 m Height 60 ft 2 in 18 34 m Volume 247 800 cu ft 7 017 m3 Gross weight 15 000 lb 6 804 kg Powerplant 2 Allison 250 B17C turboprops 420 hp 312 2 kW eachPerformance Maximum speed 65 mph 105 km h 56 kn Service ceiling 10 000 ft 3 050 m References EditNotes Edit a b c d Taylor 1996 p 548 Blimp Arbourne Air Progress December 1987 Type Certificate Data Sheet No AS1GL Lockheed Martin Loral GZ 22 PDF Federal Aviation Authority 1 October 1997 Retrieved 2009 07 27 Aircraft Loral Corp GZ 22 registration N4A National Transportation Safety Board 17 May 2001 Retrieved 2009 07 27 Elliott Dave 10 January 2018 LORAL GZ 22 SPIRIT OF AKRON MAPS Air Museum Retrieved 9 December 2018 Bibliography Edit Taylor Michael J H 1996 Brassey s World Aircraft amp Systems Directory London England Brassey s ISBN 1 85753 198 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Loral GZ 22 amp oldid 1133864624, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
