LDF Powered Balloon Program

Abstract

The report describes POBAL, a test flight to demonstrate the feasibility of accomplishing station-keeping by powering a 711,000-cu. ft. free balloon against the wind in the minimum wind field near 60,000-ft altitude. The propulsion system, fabricated from off the shelf components, incorporated a 35- ft diameter helicopter rotor and an 8-hp electric motor powered by Ag-Zn batteries. Line of thrust was controlled by a 9-ft high rudder, steerable either by radio command or by autopilot. POBAL was flown from Holloman AFB, New Mexico in September 1972. System components, flight results, recommendations and feasibility studies for a long duration POBAL system are discussed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 18, 1973
Accession Number
AD0768673

Entities

People

  • Arthur O. Koran
  • Catherine B. Rice
  • Richard C. Leclaire

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Altitude
  • Electric Motors
  • Energy
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Fuel Cells
  • Gas Turbines
  • Heat Energy
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Power Supplies
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Storage Batteries
  • Turbines
  • Turbojet Engines
  • Turboshaft Engines

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Fault Tolerant Diagnosis of Black and White Balloon Isolation Tests Using ¥.