Brushless Motor For RC Blimps

[WillowPtarmigan]

Has anyone ever used brushless motors for RC blimps, like the smaller indoor ones (4 to 7 feet in length)? I know those larger advertising RC blimps that fly outdoors do use brushless.

[Lone Yankee]

During my small amount of experience in attempting to build a practical, indoor micro-blimp, the one problem I have not had is lack of power. In fact, quite the contrary every one I have built so far has been over-powered. My last model, Blimp.exe Ver.4.2 /RFFS /Li , was powered by a single-cell 90Mah Lipo cell and the smallest 4mm pager motor I could find (which I still only ran at half throttle). Since roughly every ounce of mass on your ship will have to be displaced by about 1 cubic foot of helium, spend your grams wisely. And since the lightest brushless motor I know of is a drop-in replacement for the GWS IPS motor (see the foamies forum for details) even if you could mount it the thrust could rip the airship apart.

So to actaully answer your question, no, and at this time I can not recommend any existing make.

Happy landings: -LY

[WillowPtarmigan]

During my small amount of experience in attempting to build a practical, indoor micro-blimp, the one problem I have not had is lack of power. In fact, quite the contrary every one I have built so far has been over-powered. My last model, Blimp.exe Ver.4.2 /RFFS /Li , was powered by a single-cell 90Mah Lipo cell and the smallest 4mm pager motor I could find (which I still only ran at half throttle). Since roughly every ounce of mass on your ship will have to be displaced by about 1 cubic foot of helium, spend your grams wisely. And since the lightest brushless motor I know of is a drop-in replacement for the GWS IPS motor (see the foamies forum for details) even if you could mount it the thrust could rip the airship apart.

So to actaully answer your question, no, and at this time I can not recommend any existing make.

Happy landings: -LY

I read somewhere if your RC blimp flies at 15 mph, then it can be flown outdoors.
RC Micro Flight-Lighter Than Air-Page 3 (http://www.rcmicroflight.com/library/light_than_air3.asp)

[Lone Yankee]

Thanks for posting that link, I don't know how I missed it. As for outdoor flight, I would address that endeavor with great caution. Airspeed is not the only consideration because the blimp is such a good "sail" it may have to reisist more force per mhp of wind speed than any fixed-wing plane. My concentration on a small ship that is suitable for indoor use is not applicable for a ship of the type you are considering, but I would recommend having LOTS of reserve power and control surface throw. I had a 2 channel rogolo wing flyer that I almost lost to a thermal and a light breeze. Another issue for a 15+ mph airship is the strain on the gas envelope where it mates to the power system; make it good and strong. I hope to have a fuctioning micro-blimp for this next holiday season and will post my results here. Please do the same as I would love to see what you come up with.

-LY

[WillowPtarmigan]

What do you mean overpowered for your RC blimps? Why would a RC blimp be fragile?

[ericdeborde]

I use micro CD rom motors on my zeppelin (17g each)

I made litle outdoor blimp (10' long / 60 km/h of speed)
see : www.media-zep.com

Galerie photo, video of the blimp and abord video !

[gizmointhesky]

...

[CAFplanekid]

Eric: your blimps are amazing and look like way too much fun for a bag of helium! Any chance you happen to sell the envelopes for your blimps? I could handle the electronics and all that stuff, but the envelopes are something I have no experience with building or access to. Thanks

[ericdeborde]

I am working on that.
I would like to produce a quality 500/600liters envelope (polyurethane) for aprox 110$.
Polyurethane is UV resistant, stretchy, strong and helium proof!
I hope to have this for early 2006.
The envelope will be aprox 170g, the payload aprox 400g.

[A-Train Prod.]

There's a great envelope that you buy as a replacement for thier RTF airship at www.peck-polymers.com. Just click on blimps, then 1300 and scroll to second page.

[A-Train Prod.]

I'm planning on using Uberall 0508/73 Nippy Black brushless outrunners spinning 10x4.7 props. Using motocalc I have figured this generate 15.8 oz. thrust a piece and draw <10 amps. Does anyone have any other sugestions or does this setup sound okay?