UConn Lumpy
{{short description|American non-rigid airship}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:UConn Lumpy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Lumpy | image=Side view of the UConn Lumpy airship, 1975.jpg | caption=The Lumpy airship at the UConn Storrs campus, 1975 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Airship | national origin=United States of America | manufacturer=University of Connecticut | designer= | first flight=1975 | introduced= | retired= | status=retired | primary user= | more users= | number built=1 | program cost=$500 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
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 {{convert|9.2|ft|m|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on}} diameter weather balloons filled with helium. The ill-fitting appearance of the envelope led to the craft being named Lumpy. The airship was powered by a {{convert|15|hp|kW|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|500|ft|m|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}}.
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Hartford Courant & Connecticut Daily Campus
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length ft=51
|dia ft=25
|height m=
|volume ft3=7,000
|volume note=gross
|empty weight lb=450
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=
|eng1 type=air-cooled piston engines
|eng1 hp=15
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=10
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|range nmi=
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|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/191132267@N03/albums/72177720314954924/ Flickr album about the UConn Lumpy]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:University of Connecticut Lumpy}}
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1975
Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft
Category:Airships of the United States