TRANSLATION from Spanish to English on September 18, 2022
July 2001
PROPOSAL FOR CARGO AIRSHIPS
We have designed a helium-filled airship with a cargo capacity of 50 metric tons, to be built in Colombia. This project will be called 2320, by the relative size index (the 2/3 power of the volume in cubic meters). The length will be 180 meters, with a maximum diameter of 36 meters. Total volume will be 111,750 cubic meters, and volume of helium from 95,000 to 100,000 cubic meters, since this varies with operating altitude. Provision for carrying cargo will normally be a platform 20 meters long by 10 meters wide, with a normal height of up to 4 meters, and supported from four double cables on the corners (PS: Actually a square at 25 and 75% of the platform length, with guide cables at the four corners and a unique patentable interaction system.) Normally this platform is retracted in flight into the profile of the airship for protection and minimal wind resistance. The basic capacity will be two to three semi truck loads. You will be able to operate from a fixed prepared field of 500 meters in diameter or – by means of the loading and unloading platform – could receive and deliver this or other cargo to sites with an absolute minimum of preparation. In these cases it could maintain a height of 50 to 100 meters and use an open field or water surface of about 50 meters diameter. Normally four anchors screwed into the ground will be used to locate and control the operation or, if in water, four bags filled with water. On more permanent sites an upload/download framework can be used, delivered earlier or even on the same flight by the airship. This would allow faster operation.
It is worth mentioning that the apparently enormous size of this airship really is, historically, a medium size. Between 1929 and 1938 seven airships were built between this size and 75% larger, using the inferior materials of that time. Nowadays the design of an airship with 3 ½ times the volume of that which is here proposed is well advanced. This is the “Cargolifter”, with a planned capacity of 160 metric tons, which you can see on the site http://www.cargolifter.com.
Using rapidly interchangeable load modules, the 2320 can be used for all kinds of transport, for example refrigerated meat, 50 tons of live cattle, or transporting, and even harvesting, timber directly from the forest with minimal ecological damage. With a passenger module, it will transport 250 to 300 passengers in greater comfort than airplanes. Larger or irregularly shaped cargo, such as large tanks or towers, can be carried under the body of the airship in the open air. Logically, its initial use will be in the most urgent fields and the most profitable in an economic sense. For this, its use day and night will be important, made more practical by the interchangeable modules.
Based on an in-depth study of past airships and adaptable modern technologies, an airship will be built that is especially suited to tropical areas and allows for quick and cheap construction. We propose the construction of a 1/5 scale demonstrator, 36 meters long and with a capacity of three people, while carrying out the final studies and tests for the large prototype. This, with a relative size index of 93, that is, 1/125 the volume of 2320, will serve to minimize the economic risk and at the same time train Colombian personnel in all aspects of this little-known field. The demonstrator can both test and refine the performance and the most efficient construction and operation methods for the 2320. This will result in a net saving of time and funds.
The construction of this airship will take advantage of modern advances in materials allowing the construction of a large airship with most of the advantages of the large rigid airships of the past, but using flexible materials. It maintains its aerodynamic shape simply by a minimal internal pressure of only 5 to 50 kg per square meter, depending on the speed. It will use a minimum frame of aluminum tubes, in three (main) sections of 25 meters in length, only in the lower part, to distribute the weight of the load.
Construction in Colombia will have the great advantage of favorable temperatures that allow the use of water for the anchoring system during inflation and operation, without the risk of ice, snow, and discomfort to workers. The simple construction of the outer bag on a three meter high mold will make it possible to build it within a low workshop some 200 meters long. Thus the initial inflation and operation will be done without the cost of millions of dollars for a large hangar. Cargolifter have already spent more than 50 million dollars on a hangar that is the largest construction without internal support in the world. However, once built, they hope the airships won’t return to the hangar for months or even years. Unlike the Cargolifter which uses a single helium bag, the UPship system will allow rapid inflation with air, after which internal helium bags can be added without worry, and without a hangar. Avoiding this tremendous cost of a hangar will be a major advantage of the design proposed here.
OTHER OUTSTANDING FEATURES
A (mathematically defined) shape of minimal air resistance, resulting in minimal fuel burn and easier control when anchoring. Per ton of payload, the fuel cost per kilometer will be about ¼ that of large aircraft.
A great stability, an outstanding property of large airships, which allows a much smoother and more comfortable flight than airplanes.
Complete control at all speeds, facilitating safety, anchoring, and load sharing.
Use of modern Diesel engines of lower weight, fuel consumption, and risk of fire.
Ease of inspection and internal maintenance of all its components, in flight or on the ground.
Six internal divisions and suspension rings. These maintain the circular shape and facilitate the construction, inspection, maintenance, and ventilation of the airship. Between them a spiral suspension system retains the helium cells.
Seven helium cells for greater safety and minimum loss of helium due to carrying an average pressure of only 15 kg per square meter. These are interconnected but easily inspected and repaired or replaced when damage or lack of helium retention occurs.
Complete internal reinforcement by a structural network that shares and thus reduces by half the forces carried by the external fabric. This prevents an external break from being possibly disastrous, and allows personnel to reach any internal part of the airship in complete safety. At the same time, it gives the great advantage of being able to change damaged portions of the external fabric, extending the useful life of the airship.
Continuous electronic detection of damage and helium loss, allowing rapid location and repair of damage from within the spacecraft in flight or on the ground.
An anchorage system that allows for an absolute minimum of personnel required, and allows quick and safe balance adjustment.
These and other very important aspects will be tested by building and testing the small demonstrator.
Based on the characteristics of the UPship design, adapted to the 2320 of 180 meters, we have:
KEY FEATURES: Helium-filled semi-rigid airship. Least–resistance shape, with four propulsion motors at two inverted “V” shaped rudders, and two control motors at the bow for full low speed control. Designed for easy construction and maintenance, and minimal internal pressure. It includes major advances in control, multiple helium cells, and stability that increases utility and safety, while eliminating ground personnel.
DIMENSIONS: Length 180 meters (590 feet), diameter 36 meters (118 feet), height 40 meters (131 feet), rudder width 44 meters (144 feet).
VOLUMES: Total envelope 111,750 cubic meters (4 million cubic feet), normal helium 95,000 to 100,000 cubic meters depending on altitude.
WEIGHTS: Total lift about 95,000 kg, empty weight about 45,000 kg, useful lift about 50,000 kg. Additional lift by motors 3000 kg.
LOAD CAPACITY: Normal payload of 50 tons, up to a height of 1000 meters. As the lifting force decreases by 1% for every 100 meters, this capacity will decrease by 10 tons every thousand meters. As an example, this will leave a useful capacity in Bogota of about 30 tons, and at 6,000 meters it will lose its payload capacity. Airship balance requires a constant weight normally within 5%, and thus requires that an unloaded cargo be replaced by another cargo or by ballast water.
LOADING/UNLOADING CONTROL: Uses a (Patentable) system of hydraulically operated lift cables to raise and lower the loading platform, of typically 10 by 20 meters size. This operation is facilitated by four guide cable temporarily connected to ground. These guide the load to an exact point despite movements of the airship, which maintains a height of 50 to 100 meters. Cargo swapping can also be done easily on permanent bases, with the airship at ground level (also Patentable).
SPEEDS: Maximum 100 kph (62 mph), at 70% power 89 kph (55 mph), at 50% power 79 kph (49 mph). This is based on airships from the past and is likely to be 10% higher due to minimizing drag.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: About 150 liters per hour at 70% power. A fuel capacity of 2000 liters (2% of the total weight) will give 10 hours of flight (890 km) with a reserve of 33%.
FLIGHT DURATION: Normal is up to 10 hours. At maximum speed 7 hours. With 25,000 kg fuel (20% reserve) and 25,000 kg load: 133 hours and 12,000 km at 89 kph.
FLIGHT CONTROL: Stability in flight by two fixed stabilizing fins, directional control by moving rudders in the air flow of the propulsion propellers. Automatic pitch control by helium transfer via fans. Autopilot control using features of the (Patentable) bow thrusters, also giving low speed control in all directions (up/down/right/left/reverse).
STRUCTURE: Minimum framework installed internally at the bottom, (45 degrees right and left of bottom center) made of (corrugated) aluminum tube trusses, with flexible suspension to prevent damage. This also joins the structures of the fins and cabins.
ENGINES: Zoche 300 horsepower radial diesel engines, with air starting. Two mounted at each fixed rudder, two operate bow thrusters. Two (for redundancy) 70-horsepower Zoche handle the hydraulic and electrical systems for cargo handling, pressure fans, etc.
CABINS: Comfortable internal cabins with a crew bedroom. Active crew is two pilots and two to four operators for the loading/unloading process.
COSTS: Compared to the large airships of the past, the UPship eliminates millions of rivets, thousands of structural parts, multiple coats of external painting, and working at great heights, all resulting in savings in manual labor. Initial CERTIFICATION COSTS by the Government are still difficult to project and ARE NOT INCLUDED. Small Demonstrator Cost: $50,000 to $100,000. 180-meter cargo airship, built in Colombia: about $100,000 per useful ton of cargo. This compares to more than $1 million per useful ton of cargo on large cargo planes
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Photos of 1/100 scale model that demonstrated the cargo exchange system
Estimated Costs of the UPship 2320
Materials
Fabrics $750,000 30,000 yards @ $25
(Rexam Industrial, USA)
Motors $400,000 6) Diesel 300 HP
2) Diesel 70 HP
(Zoche, Germany)
Helium $500,000 100,000 cubic meters
(Air Products, USA)
Various $600,000 Structure, controls, etc.
Subtotal $2,250,000 Materials
Labor
Construction $800,000 50,000 kg x 8 horas per kg@
$2 per hour (250 workers one year)
Engineering $500,000 50,000 hours @ $10
(25 engineers for one year)
Subtotal $1,300,000 Labor
Subtotal $2,250,000 Materials
Error/additional $1,450,000 @ 40%
TOTAL $5,000,000
Approximate Weights of the UPship 2320
Envelope, gas cells, netting, etc. 20,000 kg
Framing 3,500 kg
Load platform 1,500 kg
Cable and hoist systems 1,000 kg
Fins and rudders 3,000 kg
Bow and anchoring 1,000 kg
Motors end accessories 1,500 kg
Cabins 1,500 kg
Tanks – water, fuels etc. 500 kg
Controls and hydraulic systems 1,000 kg
_________
Subtotal 34,500 kg
Error factor @ 30% 10,500 kg
__________
TOTAL EMPTY WEIGHT: 45,000 kg
(Sources: past builders’ information, Cargo Transportation by Airships: a Systems Study, NASA 1975.)
Jesse Blenn, President and Technical Director
UPship Corporation
5198 Highway 84
Elba, Alabama 36323, USA
334-897-6132
mailto:airship@alaweb.com
NOW Jesse Blenn
jesseblenn@gmail.com Telephone and Whatsapp +506-8372-4113