D class blimp
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| D class | |
|---|---|
| Type | Patrol airship |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| Maiden flight | 13 July 1920 at Wingfoot Lake |
| Retired | 1924 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 6 |
The D class blimp was a patrol airship designed by the US Navy in the early 1920s. The D-type blimps were slightly large than the C-type and had many detail improvements. The Navy continued the practice of dividing the envelop production between Goodyear and Goodrich. The control cars were manufactured by the Naval Aircraft Factory. The major improvements were a better control car design. The engines were moved to the rear to reduce noise and allow better communications between crew members. The fuel tanks were suspended from the sides of the envelope. The envelope was identical to the C-type, except an additional six foot panel was inserted for a total length of 198 feet and a volume of 190,000 cubic feet.
[edit] Operational history
The D-1 burned the day of its first flight in the Goodyear hangar at Wingfoot Lake, Ohio. The D-2, D-3, D-4 and D-5 were transferred to the United States Army which the Air Ship Board had given the primary role of operating non-rigid airships after World War I. D-1 participated as an observation and photography aircraft at the famed "Mitchell" bombing test of 1921. D-3 also participated in the Mitchell bombing trials, tested experimental mooring masts, D-3 also participated in early "hook-on" experiments to see if it was possible for an airplane to fly up to and hook onto a trapeze hanging from an airship. No actual hook-ons were achieved, but approaches were practiced. D-4 also participated in the Mitchell trials, and in observation jobs. The D-5 was never operated by the Army with that designation. After the loss of D-2, the D-5 was erected with more powerful 180 hp Wright V engines and flown as the D-2-2.
The Navy retained one additional D-type, the D-6. It featured a further improved control car (the "D-1 Enclosed Cabin Car) which had a water tight bottom for landings on water and internal fuel tanks. The D-6 was burned in the Rockaway hangar fire of 31 August 1921 along with C-10 and H-1.
The last operational D-type, the D-3 was apparently deflated by the Army in early 1924.
[edit] Specifications (typical)
General characteristics
- Crew: Four
- Length: 198 ft 0 in (60.37 m)
- Diameter: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)
- Height: 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
- Volume: 190,000 ft³ (5,380 m³)
- Useful lift: 4,340 lb (1,969 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Union, 125 hp (93 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 58 mph (93 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 40 mph (64 km/h)
- Range: 1,480 miles (2,380 km)
- Endurance: 37 hours
Armament
- 1 × .303 Lewis gun
- 4 × 270 lb (122 kg) bombs
[edit] References
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[edit] See also
Related lists
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