Our new 30 ft blimp

[galaxyrpv]

Check out our new 30 foot out door blimp.
It is powered by two G-26s with eletric starters. We build indoor blimps from 8 ft to over 20 ft., we currently build and operate the blimps for the Dallas Stars and Mavericks, and out door blimps from 20 ft to over 50 ft. I would like to get some feed back on what eletric modelers think of indoor and outdoor blimps. I would be more than happy to answer any questions about our systems, and any sudjestions towards possible blimp applications.

Thanks,

Tony White
Galaxy RPV
http://www.galaxyrpv.com/images/30ft_test_flight_08a.jpg

[djslack]

Hi Tony,

While this isn't exactly for sale I don't get the chance to talk to many blimp builders so I figure I'll get while the getting's good.

As far as electric blimps, the little indoor ones (like Plantraco makes, probably several steps down from what you guys make) are a fun diversion but even having the a/c on makes them impossible to control well - good thing they're light :)

How do the larger ones compare? I am sure they can carry the weight to have a great deal of power. I think the Mudbugs hockey team here has an arena blimp they fly around during the games. When you get up to a large one like you show here, how much wind can it handle?

As far as applications, you may already be doing this but I know they fly blimps over festivals and beaches where there are lots of people. I'd imagine it is pretty expensive to do so. I'd volunteer to spend my summers traveling to beaches and festivals to fly a 30' RC blimp around for advertising purposes; I could probably be paid well and still be cheaper than bringing in a full-scale one. (If you do this and are hiring pilots, let me know :))

And to bring us back on topic, I'll ask: how much does one of these cost?

Chris

[Fred Bronk]

You might get more feedback in Blimps http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=62 or Open Discussion.

[galaxyrpv]

Chris,

The basic blimp 30ft runs $22,962.00. We offer several accessory packages. They are as fallows:

- Ground station $1,861.45
- Data uplink system $2,790.00
- Generator $3,295.30
- Autonomous flight system $15,000.00
- Internal lighting system $237.66


I have several upcoming opertunities for blimp pilots, so I will keep ypu in mind. Take a look at our web site www.galaxyrpv.com.

Thanks, Tony

[WJ Birmingham]

Only 23k? Send me 5 please. ;)

[Mark Wood]

Tony, welcome to Ezone!
I'm going to drop this over to Open Discussion for more exposure and it will still fall into the "one post per week" guidelines for non-sponsor vendors. Of course , if you'd like to become a sponsor be sure to contact Jason Newell. ;)

mw

[Viper Pilot]

Tony,

One question . . . . . will it knife-edge???

Seriously, though. Mark, I thought Ezone Forums were for electric . . . . Ezone.

G-26s are gas powered monsters, and would be best under some other topic.

Just a suggestion.

Viper

[galaxyrpv]

Here is our official promotions spiel for the blimp. I figured you guys would like to see it. I will post some flight video and more pictures of the system in a later post:

The 30-foot Outdoor blimp has been designed for ease of use and practicality in the field. The gondola uses the latest in remote piloted systems and offers extreme versatility in both power and mobility. Fitted with automatic electric onboard starters the blimp is completely hands off when starting or stopping the engines and can even be re-started in flight. With a sleek streamline bag shape the blimp can fly safely in higher winds and provides great stability as an aerial image-gathering platform. This blimp offers high impact aerial marketing at prices much lower than full size manned aircraft.

Includes:

Blimp Envelope
Diameter: 7.5ft
Length: 30ft
Weight: 12lbs
Material: Rip-Stop Nylon
Payload: Approx. 32lbs
Fill hoses
Envelope repair kit (includes extra material and glue).
Outdoor Gondola (gas powered)
Length: 42in
Width: 9in
Height: 12in
Weight: 25lbs
Motor: Zenoah G-23
Flight Time: 1-2 hours without onboard generator, 6-8 hours with onboard generator
Automatic Electric Starters: FEMA Onboard Starter Kit
Top Speed: 25-30mph

Custom Transmitter & Receiver

Battery Packs

Outdoor Fins (elevator & rudder control)
Servos: Hitec
Material: Wood/Foam Structure w/ MonoKote

On-board Ballast

Rope

Accessories:
Internal Lighting System (when using optional generator)

Ground Station
- Roll around gondola stand
- 5 gallon refuel tank
- Electric refuel pump with battery
- Tool and replacement parts storage
- 4 point blimp tie down system (good for winds up to 15 mph)

Spare Propulsion module:
- Quick change motor with starter.

Data Uplink System
One of the greatest concerns while piloting a remote control blimp is battery usage and fuel consumption. Currently blimps being sold commercially do not generally provide any flight information to the pilot. Our new data uplink system provides critical information during flight that will reduce the likelihood of losing flight control due to battery consumption and loss of power due to running out of fuel. The system transmits airspeed, altitude, voltage, and fuel usage to the ground via two omni directional antennae, one on the gondola and the other on the ground, with a range of approximately one mile. The system comes with preformatted software and includes laptop with Windows 98. The system will give warning flags for low voltage, low fuel, altitude limits, and distance limits. This is extremely important because the system will guard against accidents due to dead batteries (resulting in radio failure) and empty gas tanks (loss of power plants).

Generator System
The generator will eliminate the need to carry multiple batteries for the radio, lights, camera system, and any other electrical accessory. As is the blimp is delivered with one set of flight batteries (2) and one starter battery and chargers for each. In addition, the client would not have to charge several packs at different voltages requiring different types of chargers, and if they plan to fly all day they must invest in several battery sets to be replaced every other flight that range from 30 to 45 minutes. This requires a lot of down time between flights and opens the possibility for accidents do to the constant monitoring of batteries being replaced and the chance of replacing them with improperly charged batteries due to the lack of experience with these types of batteries systems. With addition of the generator the client is free to add accessories such as a camera system, illumination light for the bag and navigation lights to fly at night, and any other electrical accessories with out the addition of more batteries witch will save on weight and the hassle of charging more batteries. The biggest advantage would be the fact that the flight time of the blimp would only be limited by fuel.

Delivery Schedule – 2 to 3 months

A training program is also available

Thanks,
Jason

[galaxyrpv]

Vipor,

We also build electric blimps ranging from 8' to 20'. I was just elaorating on our 30' outdoor. Here is a link to our indoor blimp stuff: http://www.galaxyrpv.com/blimp_indoor.html

The 30' gas powered will soon be converted to an electric version as well.

Tony

[Martin Hunter]

How cool it would look with my upcoming 30" Dumas Sparrowhawk docking underneat that behemoth :D

Martin

[frank l jr]

WOW, wouldn't that be a hoot, love to see one of them fly. how about a schedule of when and where? love it..
frank

[galaxyrpv]

That would be neat to see a docking!

We fly all the time out of Fort Worth, Texas. We are going to be flying tomorrow at our shop near the intersection of I-35 and I-20 so if anybody is in the area keep a look out.

Here is a pic that will give it some proportion.

Tony

[galaxyrpv]

Here is another pic...

[SkyPyro]

How much weight can it carry? It would be neat to haul a glider up with one of those, although it is a bit pricier than a high start or tow :D

[drisok]

Check out the gas blimp we manufacture. We use g-26 engines for greater thrust and have shrouded the engines.

3 hour flight time on 32:1 premix gas.

Training is included and mandatory. 3 complete sets of batteries and chargers/Airtronics radio system/fill station/tool box/sand bags, etc. In short everything you need except the trailer and truck to carry it in.

www.atlasairships.com

[galaxyrpv]

Looks like you bought your blimp from Caralina Airships. They do not build their own blimps. Their blimps come from Mobile Airships in Canada. I helped them early on to make thier blimps fly correctly. My outdoor blimps are made by me and have quite a bit more power and endurance than the ship you purchased. My 30 footer has G-26s and my new 35 foot blimp has BT-50s. You can see them at my web site, www.galaxyrpv.com .

[drisok]

You are correct, Carolina Airships assembled this blimp and it was modified by me with extra accessories.

I am getting 3 hours of flight time out of my blimp and if flys flawlessly. No need for a generator, which is by the way awesome! I run two g-26's as well.

Why are you only flying 1 hour at a time without a generator though? I dont have a generator and have no problems flying fully loaded with a light kit and batteries for 3 hours or slightly longer. Do the generators serve to reduce output of the motors any? I should suspect they would but to what degree?

I totally like your data uplink system. I have been working on one myself.

[galaxyrpv]

Without a generator my ships can fly for over 4 hours. I carry 2 gallons of gas. The generator is mainly for night flights so I can get a full 4 hours in without haveing to recharge the 12 volts for the lights, which I run 2 50 watt halogens.