The airship was developed by Melbourne businessman Tony Norton in the mid-1970s.[1] The project involved 10,000 person-hours; planning and design of the airship took two years, construction itself took just a year. Flight tests commenced at Tocumwal, NSW at the end of June 1977. It is named for the W.D. & H.O. Wills-manufactured Ardath cigarettes, whose logo is on each side of the envelope.[1]
The company Mantainer Pty Ltd was formed in connection to the airship project. In addition to its advertising role, Mantainer also intended to deploy the airship in surveillance, and in search and rescue duties.[1] It was given the Australian civil aircraft registration of VH-PSE.[2]
According to Flypast : a record of aviation in Australia, by December 1978 the company had been placed in liquidation, with the airship being sold to an American buyer.[2] This was the firm U.S. Airships Inc, based in Tyler, Texas.[3] A hangar specifically intended for the airship was erected in Tyler, the airship rebuilt, however a lack of capital meant that the venture soon folded.[4]
Norton Snoopyedit
The Snoopy was a small human-powerednon-rigid airship, designed and built by Norton. It flew on 27 February 1976. The envelope was constructed using metallic 1 milMylar film.[5][2] It was a precursor of the Ardath.
Ardathedit
The airship is conventional in appearance and configuration. It has a helium-filled envelope, with ballonets fore-and-aft. The ballonets can be inflated by airscoops situated in the slipstream from the propellers. The gondola is suspended underneath the envelope via catenary curtains.[1] The gondola is of light alloy construction, and has a single non-retractable landing wheel. There are four stabilising fins, arranged in a cruciform pattern. The rudder is located on the lower fin, with elevators being fitted to both horizontal stabilisers.[1]
Specificationsedit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1977-78[1]
Propellers: 2-bladed Perfectus metal fixed-pitch propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 89 km/h (55 mph, 48 kn)
Cruise speed: 70 km/h (44 mph, 38 kn)
Range: 280 km (170 mi, 150 nmi)
Service ceiling: 1,100 m (3,500 ft)
Referencesedit
^ abcdefTaylor, John W. R.; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1977). Jane's all the world's aircraft 1977-78. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 628, 870. ISBN0354005510. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^ abcParnell, Neville; Boughton, Trevor (1988). Flypast: A Record of Aviation in Australia. Australian Government Pub. Service. p. 356. ISBN9780644079181. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
^Appelbome, Peter (21 September 1980). "Best (Only) Little Blimp House in Texas". The New York Times. p. 26. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^Oggioni, Paolo, ed. (Autumn 2018). "Karl H Stefan" (PDF). CIA Newsletter (Autumn 2018). Lausanne, Switzerland: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale: 7. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^Allen, Bill (July 1977). "Big boom in gas bags". Popular Mechanics. 148 (1). New York, New York, USA: The Hearst Corporation: 131 – via Archive.org.
Bibliographyedit
"Australian Dirigible". Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 48 (11): 17–18. November 1976.
External linksedit
Teaselville Blimp (Youtube)
January 01, 1970
mantainer, ardath, rigid, airship, designed, built, australia, during, 1970s, ardath, role, airship, national, origin, australia, manufacturer, mantainer, designer, tony, norton, first, flight, 1977, primary, user, ardath, number, built, contents, design, deve. The Mantainer Ardath is a non rigid airship designed and built in Australia during the 1970s Ardath Role Airship National origin Australia Manufacturer Mantainer Pty Ltd Designer Tony Norton First flight 1977 Primary user Ardath Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Norton Snoopy 1 2 Ardath 2 Specifications 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign and development editThe airship was developed by Melbourne businessman Tony Norton in the mid 1970s 1 The project involved 10 000 person hours planning and design of the airship took two years construction itself took just a year Flight tests commenced at Tocumwal NSW at the end of June 1977 It is named for the W D amp H O Wills manufactured Ardath cigarettes whose logo is on each side of the envelope 1 The company Mantainer Pty Ltd was formed in connection to the airship project In addition to its advertising role Mantainer also intended to deploy the airship in surveillance and in search and rescue duties 1 It was given the Australian civil aircraft registration of VH PSE 2 According to Flypast a record of aviation in Australia by December 1978 the company had been placed in liquidation with the airship being sold to an American buyer 2 This was the firm U S Airships Inc based in Tyler Texas 3 A hangar specifically intended for the airship was erected in Tyler the airship rebuilt however a lack of capital meant that the venture soon folded 4 Norton Snoopy edit The Snoopy was a small human powered non rigid airship designed and built by Norton It flew on 27 February 1976 The envelope was constructed using metallic 1 mil Mylar film 5 2 It was a precursor of the Ardath Ardath edit The airship is conventional in appearance and configuration It has a helium filled envelope with ballonets fore and aft The ballonets can be inflated by airscoops situated in the slipstream from the propellers The gondola is suspended underneath the envelope via catenary curtains 1 The gondola is of light alloy construction and has a single non retractable landing wheel There are four stabilising fins arranged in a cruciform pattern The rudder is located on the lower fin with elevators being fitted to both horizontal stabilisers 1 Specifications editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1977 78 1 General characteristicsLength 26 82 m 88 ft 0 in Diameter 7 32 m 24 ft 0 in Height 9 14 m 30 ft 0 in Volume 633 9 m3 22 390 cu ft gross Powerplant 2 Xenoah G50B two cylinder two stroke air cooled piston engines 34 kW 45 hp each Propellers 2 bladed Perfectus metal fixed pitch propellers Performance Maximum speed 89 km h 55 mph 48 kn Cruise speed 70 km h 44 mph 38 kn Range 280 km 170 mi 150 nmi Service ceiling 1 100 m 3 500 ft References edit a b c d e f Taylor John W R Munson Kenneth eds 1977 Jane s all the world s aircraft 1977 78 London Jane s Yearbooks pp 628 870 ISBN 0354005510 Retrieved 15 April 2023 a b c Parnell Neville Boughton Trevor 1988 Flypast A Record of Aviation in Australia Australian Government Pub Service p 356 ISBN 9780644079181 Retrieved 15 April 2023 Appelbome Peter 21 September 1980 Best Only Little Blimp House in Texas The New York Times p 26 Retrieved 10 March 2023 Oggioni Paolo ed Autumn 2018 Karl H Stefan PDF CIA Newsletter Autumn 2018 Lausanne Switzerland Federation Aeronautique Internationale 7 Retrieved 10 March 2023 Allen Bill July 1977 Big boom in gas bags Popular Mechanics 148 1 New York New York USA The Hearst Corporation 131 via Archive org Bibliography edit Australian Dirigible Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology 48 11 17 18 November 1976 External links editTeaselville Blimp Youtube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mantainer Ardath amp oldid 1202525342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
