The Blimp Project
Link to Blimp Website Page
As 30% of the final grade, a group project was devised for the Elizabethtown ENGR118 Engineering Methods and Graphics course. For the Spring of 1999, the class was assigned to create an airworthy helium blimp. Beginning from the ground up, the project involved planning, design, purchasing, and, finally, construction. With some effort, luck, and an occasional setback, the project culminated with the output of not one, but two blimps.
This website provides a detailed view into the planning, design, and construction stages of the project.
Steven Henderson. Kati Young, Tim Costella, Mike Chambers, Brian Holton, Josh Daubert, Paul Contino, David Ragains, Jonathan Snively, Monique Anderson, "Mystery Man", Chris Reed, Kelly Steiner
CAD Drawings (zip)
| Object | Price |
| 1st blimp bag |
$115.00 |
| 2nd blimp bag |
120.00 |
| plans |
40.00 |
| battery |
15.57 |
| motors |
65.00 |
| balsa wood |
13.00 |
| radio control unit, servos, speed control |
310.00 |
| Microsoft Project software |
30.00 |
| battery charger |
40.00 |
| plugs |
6.50 |
| linkage |
4.95 |
| center shaft |
2.00 |
| bearings |
10.00 |
| monocot |
12.50 |
| helium |
33.00 |
| total spent |
$784.52 |
total budget= $1000.00
total spent= $784.52
amount remaining= $215.48
1st blimp bag: cost of $115.00. Measurement of 8ft. x 2ft. "fat."
Purchased from Blimp Guys at www.blimpguys.com.
2nd blimp bag: cost of $120.00. Measurement of 8.5ft. x 2ft. "fat."
Purchased in case original blimp bag does not contain enough lift for undercarriage. Also purchased from Blimp Guys.
plans: cost of $40.00. Detailed description of variable size blimp construction.
Plans purchased from: Jim Fackler
286 Elkhorn Drive
Duarte, CA 91010
(626) 358-7561
battery*: cost of $15.57*. Rechargeable.
motors*: cost of $65.00*. A pair of fan motors used for
propulsion of the blimp.
balsa wood: cost of $13.00. Frame of gondola.
R/C controllers*: cost of $310.00. Complete with servos, a
receiver, wiring, and speed control.
Microsoft Project software: cost of $30.00. Software purchased directly from Microsoft for use as the blimp project schedule and task organizational software.
battery charger*: cost of $40.00.
plugs*: cost of $6.50.
linkage*: cost of $4.95.
center shaft: cost of $2.00. Used to support and attach gondola to blimp bag.
Purchased from: HOBBY
1472 E. Lebanon Rd.
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 697-8350
Fax: (302) 697-8352
bearings*: cost of $10.00. Propeller shaft fits within bearings
to allow for smooth angular movement.
monocot: cost of $12.50.
helium: cost of $33.00. Cost included a three day tank rental with 60 cubic feet of helium.
Purchased at: Rental World
1763 Columbia Ave.
Lancaster, PA
(717) 397-3663
*Purchased from: Pit Stop Hobbies
Mount Joy, PA
(717) 653-6222
