| Lumpy | |
|---|---|
| |
| The Lumpy airship at the UConn Storrs campus, 1975 | |
| Role | AirshipType of aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | University of Connecticut |
| First flight | 1975 |
| Status | retired |
| Number built | 1 |
The UConn Lumpy was a blimp designed, built, and flown by students at the University of Connecticut in 1975.
Design and development
The airship was built by five University of Connecticut engineering students as part of their Engineering Design Project class at the university, with Associate Professor Kurt Marshke acting as their faculty advisor. As part of the process, the students built a 9.2 ft (2.8 m) proof-of-concept model, to vet the design and the control mechanisms.
The gondola was made from aluminum tubing, with the pilot located near the front and the engine sited towards the rear. The envelope was sewn together using green surplus government issue parachutes, and contained three 25 ft (7.6 m) diameter weather balloons. The ill-fitting appearance of the envelope led to the craft being named Lumpy. The airship was powered by a 15 hp (11 kW) snowmobile engine, that had been salvaged from an earlier student project. The craft was fitted with an elevator, but not a rudder.
Operational history
The Lumpy flew on Saturday, 24 May 1975 at the university's Storrs campus' soccer field. To abide by FAA regulations, a 500 ft (150 m) tether was attached to the airship. Student Robert S. Meshako acted as pilot for the initial trials, with the other students later having turns at the controls. The airship reached a maximum altitude of 100 ft (30 m).
Specifications
Data from The Hartford Courant & Connecticut Daily Campus
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 16 m (51 ft)
- Diameter: 7.6 m (25 ft)
- Volume: 200 m (7,000 cu ft) gross
- Empty weight: 204 kg (450 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 16 km/h (10 mph, 8.7 kn)
References
- ^ "Student project to 'balloon' in May". Connecticut Daily Campus. Storrs-Mansfield, Connecticut. 8 April 1975. p. 1.
- ^ Stepno, Robert B. (6 April 1975). "UConn Students Hope to Put Blimp Aloft". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. 24.
- Karmel, Terese (24 May 1975). "Storrs Blimp Awaits Calm". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. 30.
- ^ "Bulging Blimp Aloft at UConn". The Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. 25 May 1975. p. 11C.