Coast Guard Blimp

Learn more about the Skyship 600 blimp at News Illustrated SunSentinel, com/newsillustrated Blimp patrol The Navy and Coast Guard recently finished a six-week surveillance test of a Skyship 600 blimp off Florida's southern coast. It was leased by the U.S. government for $1.6 million and one day may be used to spot drug smugglers and illegal immigrants heading to the United States. A LOOK AT THE BLIMP Catenary curtain and suspension cables: Support and shape the envelope. The cables attach the curtain to the gondola. Ballonets: Two bags that are Rudder: Controls left and Envelope: Holds 240,000 cubic feet of helium gas. Made of a durable, airtight fabric that is similar to a space suit. deflated or inflated with right direction. air to make the blimp rise, descend or hold altitude. Nose cone battens: Give blimp aerody- namic shape and stiffen the front of the Elevators: envelope, protecting it when moored or while Control the up and down direction of it's in flight. the blimp. Radar: Detects and tracks vessel movements. Nose cone and spindle: Hold battens and attach blimp to Air valves: Four valves, two at the front and two at the mooring mast when on the ground. back, are underneath the envelope and can be opened to let air into the ballonets. WATCHING THE FLORIDA STRAITS The blimp flew patrols for up to 8 hours. Mission period: July 4-Aug. 29 THE GONDOLA Flight crew: A pilot, a co-pilot and one crew Fort Myers Palm Beach Mission results: Located Cuban migrants attempting Engine bay member were on board Large interior carries mission equipment and provides a solid platform, free of vibration. FLORIDA to make it to the United States during flight. on July 13 and Aug. 23. Fort Lauderdale Naples Miami Restroom Surveillance areas Key Largo Key West BOCA CHICA NAVAL AIR STATION: Navy and Coast Guard Flight deck: A standard flight| panel manages fuel and electrical systems. Radar Havana Matanzas monitors Corralillo CUBA base Sagua La Gran Computer Engines: Two turbo-charged 255 hp Porsche 930 engines provide thrust. The propellers can rotate, allowing the blimp to take off and land vertically or hover for extended periods. SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions and size comparison Owner and Boeing 747 operator: Airship Management Services, Inc. 231 feet 200 feet Cruising altitude: 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet Camera: Attached to bottom Travel speed: 57 mph of the gondola. Has infrared capabilities. Endurance: The camera Can stay aloft up to 52 hours without refueling. provides high quality images that can be sent to base. 67 feet Total personnel: 20, consisting of two pilots, three engineers and 15 ground crew. 63 feet> 2. Once the blimp reaches the preferred altitude, pilots pump air into the ballonets to balance helium, which levels the blimp. 3. To decend, air is added to the ballonets, making the blimp heavier and causing it to lose altitude. 1. To ascend, pilot vents air from the ballonets through the valves. Helium makes the blimp lighter than air so the blimp rises. HELIUM AIR AIR Upoo0Op AIR HELIUM **** AIR HOW TO FLY A BLIMP UpooOOO HELIUM .***** AIR .***** The blimp carries a large volume of helium gas, which is lighter than air. "Heavy" air is used to control the up and down movement. How it works: AIR SOURCES: Goodyear, Airship Management Services, Inc., U.S. Coast Guard, Navy Kwency Norman SUN SENTINEL [email protected]