Dragon Dream(FAA registration:N866ML[1]) is anexperimental[1]lighter than air(LTA) cargorigid airshipbuilt byWorldwide Aeros Corpas a half-scale proof of concept prototype for a design which the manufacturer calls the "Aeroscraft".[2]The development and design has been funded by the US government through the militaryWalrus HULAand then the "Pelican" projects.[3]
| Dragon Dream | |
|---|---|
 Dragon Dream experimental cargo air ship | |
| General information | |
| Type | ML866[1] |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Worldwide Aeros Corp |
| Designer | Igor Pasternak |
| Construction number | 0023[1] |
| Registration | N866ML[1] |
Design
editThe hull of the Dragon Dream has a flattened elliptic cross-section.
Buoyancycontrol is managed by pumpingheliumgas from the internal gas bag and compressing it into a storage cell, the reduction in lifting volume leading to a loss of buoyancy. The system can vary the airship's lift by 3,000–4,000 lb. The manufacturer uses the phrase "Control Of Static Heaviness" for this technology.
- Specifications
Data fromAviation Week;[3][4]FAA Registration[5]
General characteristics
- Capacity:6
- Length:266 ft 0 in (81 m)
- Volume:600,000 cu ft (17,000 m3)
- Gross weight:36,000 lb (16,329 kg)
- Powerplant:3 × Lycoming AEIO-540 SER Reciprocating diesel, 260 hp (190 kW) each
Operational history
editThe airship was completed in 2013 and, after extensive systems tests in the construction hangar atMCAS Tustin,was granted anairworthiness certificateby the USFederal Aviation Administrationin September 2013, following which some outdoor tethered trials were carried out. Shortly afterwards it was badly damaged when part of the hangar roof collapsed,[6]and the company sued the US Navy for $65 million in 2015.[7]
References
edit- ^abcde"N866ML has Reserved/Multiple Records".N-Number Inquiry.FAA Registry.
- ^Trimble, Stephen (6 September 2013)."Aeros gains airworthiness certificate for new hybrid airship".Flight Global.Retrieved16 July2014.
- ^abSweetman, Bill (15 October 2012)."Pelican Demonstrator Aimed at Airlift".aviationweek.Retrieved16 June2014.
- ^"Aeros Tests Pelican Variable-Buoyancy Airship"2013
- ^"N866ML".N Number Lookup.
- ^Pleasant, Tom (3 February 2014)."Aeros Struggles To Put Airship Concept Into Production".aviationweek.Archived fromthe originalon 8 February 2015.Retrieved16 July2013.
- ^Niles, Russ (15 March 2015)."Airship Maker Suing Over Hangar Collapse".avweb.Aviation Publishing Group.Retrieved19 March2015.
- Warwick, Graham (14 August 2007),"Worldwide Aeros to build partially buoyant civil airship",Flight International,via Flightglobal,retrieved14 June2014
External links
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