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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Thermal+airship%22">"Thermal airship"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Thermal+airship%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Thermal+airship%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Thermal+airship%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Thermal+airship%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Thermal+airship%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">January 2017</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg/300px-Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg/450px-Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg/600px-Heissluft-luftschiff_2011-1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5184" data-file-height="3456" /></a><figcaption>Hot air airship made by Gefa-Flug</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>thermal airship</b> is an <a href="/wiki/Airship" title="Airship">airship</a> that generates <a href="/wiki/Buoyancy" title="Buoyancy">buoyancy</a> by heating air in a large chamber or <a href="/wiki/Airship#Envelope" title="Airship">envelope</a>. The lower density of interior hot air compared to cool ambient air causes an upward force on the envelope. This is very similar to a <a href="/wiki/Hot_air_balloon" title="Hot air balloon">hot air balloon</a>, with the notable exception that an airship has a powered means of propulsion, whilst a hot air balloon relies on winds for navigation.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An airship that uses <a href="/wiki/Steam" title="Steam">steam</a> would also qualify as a thermal airship.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Other types of airships use a gas that is <a href="/wiki/Lighter_than_air" class="mw-redirect" title="Lighter than air">lighter than air</a> at ambient temperature, such as <a href="/wiki/Helium" title="Helium">helium</a>, as a <a href="/wiki/Lifting_gas" title="Lifting gas">lifting gas</a>. </p><p>Some airship designs that use a lighter-than-air lifting gas heat a portion of the gas, which is usually maintained in enclosed cells to gain additional lift. Heating the lifting gas causes expansion of the gas in order to further lower the density of the lifting gas, which results in greater lift. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Advantages_and_disadvantages">Advantages and disadvantages</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Advantages and disadvantages"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Thermal airships have the advantage of being much less expensive than <a href="/wiki/Helium" title="Helium">helium</a>-based airships. They are also routinely deflated after each flight and can be readily packed for storage and/or transport, making them <a href="/wiki/Blimp" title="Blimp">blimps</a> rather than rigid airships. </p><p>Hot air craft produce much less uplift per unit volume than <a href="/wiki/Helium" title="Helium">helium</a>- or <a href="/wiki/Hydrogen" title="Hydrogen">hydrogen</a>-filled craft (about 30% depending on air conditions). This necessitates lighter construction, with fewer controls and hence more difficulty in maneuvering. This leads to: </p> <ul><li>lower <a href="/wiki/Airspeed" title="Airspeed">airspeeds</a></li> <li>difficulty in handling on the ground if the ground wind is above 5 knots</li> <li>difficulty in steering, particularly at low air speeds</li> <li>lack of elevator (pitch) control, causing the airship to pitch up or down in response to changes in the throttle setting (a motion called 'porpoising')</li></ul> <p>In recent years, the steering of these ships has improved somewhat. The most successful approach has been to use higher pressure in the tail fin structures than in the rest of the envelope, or to use an internal structure (see below). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg/220px-Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg/330px-Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg/440px-Skyacht_personal_blimp_first_flight.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2272" data-file-height="1704" /></a><figcaption>Skyacht Personal Blimp - another type of thermal airship</figcaption></figure> <p>The first public flight of a hot air airship was made by Don Cameron (UK) in a <a href="/wiki/Cameron_D-96" title="Cameron D-96">Cameron D-96</a> at the Icicle Meet in January 1973. The aircraft took 3 years to develop. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Envelope_structures">Envelope structures</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Envelope structures"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Most thermal airships are non-rigid. Some are pressurized. In some cases, the pressurized air is taken from a duct located behind the propeller. In other cases, the pressurized air comes from a separate fan. </p><p>In 2006, a new type of envelope employing a <a href="/wiki/Tensile_membrane_structure" class="mw-redirect" title="Tensile membrane structure">tensile membrane structure</a> was developed by <a href="/w/index.php?title=Skyacht_Aircraft&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Skyacht Aircraft (page does not exist)">Skyacht Aircraft</a>. This design uses an unpressurized envelope and an internal structure that uses ribs made of <a href="/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> to keep the envelope in shape. When not in use, the structure folds up in a manner similar to an umbrella. The structure also permits the mounting of a steerable engine/propeller on the tail of the aircraft. The tail-mounted propeller provides for <a href="/wiki/Vectored_thrust" class="mw-redirect" title="Vectored thrust">vectored thrust</a> steering, allowing tight turns.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Operation">Operation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Operation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Like hot air balloons, thermal airships are first inflated partially with cold (ambient temperature) air. Once the envelopes are sufficiently full, a <a href="/wiki/Propane" title="Propane">propane</a> burner is ignited and the inflation is completed using heated air. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Zeppelin" title="Zeppelin">Zeppelin</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/07/airships">"The Difference Engine: Not all hot air"</a>. <i>The Economist</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 December</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Economist&rft.atitle=The+Difference+Engine%3A+Not+all+hot+air&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.economist.com%2Fblogs%2Fbabbage%2F2010%2F07%2Fairships&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AThermal+airship" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flyingkettle.com/jbfa.htm">Steam Balloon JBFA Article</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRMaX0s_cRg">Youtube video of Skyacht</a></span> </li> </ol></div></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&oldid=1197478147">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thermal_airship&oldid=1197478147</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Airship_configurations" title="Category:Airship configurations">Airship configurations</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Steam_vehicles" title="Category:Steam vehicles">Steam vehicles</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Tensile_membrane_structures" title="Category:Tensile membrane structures">Tensile membrane structures</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description is different from Wikidata">Short description is different from Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_needing_additional_references_from_January_2017" title="Category:Articles needing additional references from January 2017">Articles needing additional references from January 2017</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_needing_additional_references" title="Category:All articles needing additional references">All articles needing additional references</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Use_dmy_dates_from_November_2016" title="Category:Use dmy dates from November 2016">Use dmy dates from November 2016</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 20 January 2024, at 17:53<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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