Airship Industries Skyship 500 Free 3D model

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The Skyship 500 is a non-rigid airship developed and built in the UK during the 1980s. Developed from the Aerospace Developments AD500, this sole example served as both the prototype and technology demonstrator for the mass-produced Skyship 500. With Airship Industries' formation, production of the Skyship 500 could commence, resulting in five more airships. The Skyship 500 boasts a polyester fabric envelope, holding helium gas and carrying a control cabin gondola with a passenger compartment, propulsion systems, and ballast that's both fixed and disposable. A traditional streamlined shape features cruciform tail surfaces carrying rudder and elevator controls for yaw and pitch. The undercarriage is comprised of a rear castoring twin-wheeled oleo-pneumatic strut attached to the gondola along with ground handling ropes. These allow airship handlers on the ground to control the airship's movements while moored or during operations. A retractable mooring point positioned at the nose cone connects the airship to a mobile mooring mast. A specialized coating protects the envelope against ultra-violet degradation. This consists of a polyurethane compound containing Titanium Dioxide. Lining the fabric interior is Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film. These materials minimize helium losses within the airship. Structural components used include fibre-reinforced composite materials for reduced weight, which enables better performance in flight operations. Examples of such composite materials are found in the fibre-lam board utilised to create tail and control surfaces made from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). Inside a molded FRP gondola is the cockpit where the pilot controls airship navigation, avionics equipment, along with communication systems for passenger support. Visibility around the exterior of this control room is maintained via its front side window paneling designed for five individual and one triple seat configuration at the back. Providing strength and balance to this cabin support structure is a system consisting of interior cable mesh.