NO BLIMPS!

This blog is meant to promote the use of AIRSHIPS for the military. These are not the blimps or zeppelin type of craft that most are familiar with.

"HOW DOES THE TURTLE AIRSHIP WORK?"

The Turtle airship is a true lighter-than-air craft.

Although the Turtle airship has a lifting body shape, it is not a hybrid airship. The airship can operate using only aerostatic lift supplied though negative bouyancy. Additional, supplemental aerodynamic force is derived from the shape of the airship The overall shape of the airship is a broad helipsoid.
The airship has an internal framing system of carbon fibre trusses and matrix. The entire outer surface of the airship hull is comprised of numerous rigid honeycomb sandwich panels of aluminum and carbon fibre. These panels are a uniform size and shape and are laid up in a geodesic construction, giving the airship a faceted appearance.

Instead ot the traditional gondola, the bottom of the Turtle airship has three separate elongated hulls in a trimaran configuration. A main, or central, hull extends the full length of the airship from bow to stern, with two shorter "outrigger' hulls. In larger models of the airships, the two outrigger hulls contain living quarters for passengers.
Engines and motors are embedded within the central hull and horizontal planes. Air inlets for the engines and motors are located underneath the airships' hull. Thrust from engines is directed through plenums to the stern of the airship, and through the top and bottom of the airship.

The top half of the airships' hull is covered with thin film photovoltaic materials.

Two lighter-than-air gasses are used to supply lift; these are contained within rigid walled compartments within the major portion of the airships' hull.

Manned airships provide sufficient room for comfortable crews quarters, with full kitchen and bath facilities. Waste is collected and incinerated board the airship.

The Turtle airship uses dual propulsion systems; electric and diesel
The top of the airships' hull is covered with thin film photovoltaic solar cells which supply electricity to batteries; these battries in turn are used to power electric motors and propellors. Thrust can be directed directly perpendicular to the line of flight, or straight up or down as needed. Amounts of thrust, and directions needed for thrust to be diverted are determined by computers tied to sensors located throughout the body of the airship which measure changes in forces caused by varying winds. This system provides a dynamic, constantly attenuated control and allows the Turtle airship to maintain absolute level and stable flight through unstable air currents. These same systems are used to effect for landing the airship or take off; thrust being diverted straight up or down as needed.
These systems give the Turtle airship unparalleled maneuverability; the airship can hover, move directly from side to side, or spin horizontaly on its' own axis. The primary propulsion is derived from biofueled jets. This makes the airships reach speeds of up to 200 mph.
Solar Power is used for long endurance flights as needed during sightseeing cruise flight.
from the propellers located within the horizontal planes is used together with the main thrust
The materials used in the Turtle airships' hull are durable enough to leave outside in all weather conditions; the Turtle airship does not need a hangar. The Turtle airship does not tie up to a mooring mast, and needs no ground crew to assist in take-off or landings.

NORMAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS:
The Turtle airship is a totaly VTOL craft; it does not bank in turns, and maintains a level attitude during all parts of flight, including take-off and landing.
Helium is not vented.
Water ballast can be regained or obtained during flight directly from ambient air by using water condensation units.
Flying on solar power alone, the airship has no range limitations.
In large airships, enough solar cells are available to produce excess electricity; this can be used to split water into its' oxygen and hydrogen components; these gasses can the be fed directly to burn as fuel if desired.

WATER OPERATIONS:
The airship settles directly onto any suitably sized calm water surface.
Upon landing on the surface of the water, the airship takes on water ballast After taking on ballast, the airship lies in the water as stable as a marine vessel. The airship is then moved and steered and docks at a pier just as a marine vessel
To take off, water ballast is jettisoned, and thrust is directed downwards; the primary engines force air under the airship hull to break surface tension and ease take-off.

LAND OPERATIONS:
The Turtle airship can hover over a landing area for extended periods; or, decend very gradually . This vertical, slow approach is much safer than other airplanes, helicopters, or hybrid airships. The Turtle airship lands directly onto the ground; without ground crew assistance; and, without any need of special mooring masts or other prepared facilities.
Upon landing, the Turtle airship can be held to the surface by the directed thrust, or anchored as desired from outside the craft. preprogrammed toinclude perform multiple landings and take offs as desired, without ground crew attendance.
Reduntant computers and sensors systems monitor and control all aspects of flight, measuring thrust, bouyancy, ambient and internal temperatures, gas volumes, ballasting, electric power and fuel reserves, altitude above ground level, and payload weights. Radar and computers select optimum flight paths through all weather conditions.
Turtle airship mooring systems that are automaticly engaged upon landing either in water or on ground, are locked until directed by a pilot.

No mooring masts or other recovery and/or docking facilities are needed by a Turtle airship. No hangers are needed.
Contact:

turtleairships@hotmail.com