A comparison of a nonlinear flight dynamic simulation of an airship with flight test results

Abstract

A six degree of freedom nonlinear airship flight dynamic simulation program has been adapted to apply to nonrigid airships. This report discusses the physical and aerodynamic models that underlie the simulation. The principle of the simulation and the structure of the program are described. The simulation was used to model the flight behavior of a new technology blimp, the Airship Industries Skyship 500, for which flight test data were available. Simulation predictions follow the same trends indicated by the flight test data. The computer simulation performed well in a wide variety of maneuvers.