Gas Blimp Questions????

[apdude]

Gas blimps burn fuel which when used reduces the weight giving more lift. This as I have read is compensated for by condensing the water from the engine exhaust for ballast. Thus some sort of heat exchanger must be aboard the blimp. However I have never seen one on a RC ship, is some of the helium vented to compensate? If it is just vented that’s a waste of a lot of expensive helium. If there is a heat exchanger that sounds likes a lot of weight for the needed surface area. I must be missing something maybe someone can explain…

[Majortomski]

Well with the Ridgids of the 20s and 30s, which flew for days, the weight factor was an issue. The non-rigid patrol blimps of the 40s to 60s just took off heavy. They actually fly on the lift generated by the huge bag. If they came back light they could suck up water with a hose and pump to become negatively buoyant again. In our modeling world I'd consider ballasting the blimp to slightly negative with zero fuel, then add the fuel. You would take off heavy and land "right". Or if you have the volume, add ballonets inside the bag to pump in air to replace the weight of the fuel.

HTH
Tom

[Iepurila]

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[MisterZepp]

Ask your question to mediazepp.com they have a 18' RC motors blimp / Price start at 7500 euros ...

Halfy