Skyship 600

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Spirit of Dubai - The Palm, on the UK leg of her 2006 tour. Note the scale of the airship from the two technicians standing below her.

The Skyship 600 is a modern airship, designed by British company Airship Industries. The first Skyship 600 made its maiden flight in November 1984. Similar in appearance to the Skyship 500, it is larger, being the world's largest currently operating non-rigid airship (also called blimps). The envelope is made of Kevlar and the gondola of composite materials. Earlier models were propelled by two Porsche 930 turboshafts, but some have been modified with Textron Lycoming IO-540 engines. One important feature of this series is thrust-vector control. The encased propellers can be swivelled altogether around, providing excellent maneuverability.
Each airship has been tailor-made to meet the needs of different customers and this results in slight variations in size, performance and cabin configuration.

Airship industries collapsed in 1990, and its assets were taken over by Westinghouse. The type certificates for the Skyship 500 and 600 series are now held by US company Global Skyship Industries.

Most Skyship 600s have been used for advertising purposes, like the Spirit of Dubai. Others have been used for surveillance purposes, including during the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Skyship's sister ship the Skyship 500 registered G-BIHN was used by the character Max Zorin in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.

[edit] Specifications

• 'Length: 66 metres / 216 ft 5 in
• Height: 22 metres /72 ft 2 in
• Volume: 7,600m³
• Cruising speed: 40 mph(64 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 65 mph(105 km/h)
• Weight: 5,500 kg when deflated
• Passenger Capacity: Up to twelve plus the Captain and Co-Pilot
• Service ceiling: 7,000 feet
• Maximum Range: 400 miles
• Powerplant: 2×Porsche 930 engines(255 hp each), Turbo Charged or: 2×Textron Lycoming IO-540(300 hp each)

[edit] Links

• http://www.airship.flyer.co.uk/skyship600.htm
• http://www.blimp-n2a.com/ams.htm
• http://www.airshipoperations.com/
• http://www.aht.ndirect.co.uk/airships/ss600/index.htm