Au-30 (airship) explained

The Au-30 "Argus" is a non-rigid dirigible. As of June 2017, it holds the official world record for non-stop flight distance for non-rigid airships with a volume between 3,000 and 6,000 m³.^{[1] [2]} In 2009–2010, it is the world record holder in six classes of non-rigid airships under the FAI from BA-05 (3,000 to 6,000 m³) to the absolute BA-10 (over 100,000 m³).^[3]

It was built in Kirzhach, Vladimir Oblast. The manufacturer is CJSC "Airship Center 'Augur".^[4]

Distance Record

On September 14, 2008, the AU-30, which at that time belonged to CJSC "Center for Infrastructure Projects" and was operated by the subsidiary CJSC "AeroScan", flew 626 km, thereby breaking the official world record for non-stop flight distance for non-rigid airships (374.7 km), which had been set in 1990 by the British airship GA-42 with a volume of 1,200 m³. It should be noted that the official records registered by the FAI generally poorly reflect real achievements in the field of controlled aeronautics.^[5] For example, in 1919, the US Navy non-rigid airship C-5, with a volume of 4,870 m³, covered 1,894 km without landing.^[6]

Description

To maintain the internal pressure in the envelope, which is necessary for non-rigid airships, and for the static balancing of the craft, both nose and tail ballonets are used. The main areas of application for this airship are expected to be: patrolling, special control of power lines, pipelines, photo and video filming, rescue operations, and elite tourism.^[7]

Tactical and Technical Characteristics^[8]

• Envelope volume: 5,065 m³
• Maximum ballonet volume: 1,266 m³
• Envelope elongation: 4.0
• Envelope diameter: 13.5 m
• Airship length: 55 m
• Airship construction height: 17.5 m
• Airship structure weight: 3,350 kg
• Payload weight: 1,400 kg
• Maximum permissible takeoff weight: 4,850 kg
• Minimum control speed: 0 km/h
• Cruising speed: 40-80 km/h
• Maximum speed: 110 km/h
• Engine type: 2x Lom-Praga M332C
• Power of cruise engines: 2x 170 hp
• Maximum flight duration: 24 hours
• Flight duration at maximum speed: 5 hours
• Flight range at cruising speed: 1,600 km
• Ferry flight range: 3,000 km
• Maximum flight altitude: 2,500 m
• Operational flight altitude: up to 1,500 m
• Crew: 2 people
• Launch team: 4-6 people

Notes and References

1. Web site: FAI Record File Num #15166 BA-05 (Gas airships: 3 000 to 6 000 m³) . 2017-06-15 . 2014-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062621/http://www.fai.org/records . . According to FAI rules, the record-holding airship in the category from 3,000 to 6,000 m³ also takes the place of the current record holder in higher categories, up to BA-10 (over 100,000 m³).
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20090329115326/http://www.cip.ru/news/16-09-2008.html The AU-30 airship broke the world record
3. Web site: FAI Record File Num #15161 BA-10 (Gas airships: 100 000 m³ and above) . 2017-06-15 . 2014-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062621/http://www.fai.org/records .
4. Web site: RosAeroSystems. rosaerosystems.ru. 2019-02-14. 2011-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20110407052222/http://www.rosaerosystems.ru/.
5. cf. FAI records with Notable balloon and airship flights and a number of authoritative books and other sources on the history of controlled aeronautics
6. Web site: Kite Balloons to Airships…the Navy's Lighter-than-Air Experience, p. 18 (PDF-file, 1.3 MB) . 2010-07-11 . 2010-04-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100410031824/http://www.history.navy.mil/download/lta-03.pdf.
7. Web site: Airships. rosaerosystems.ru. 2019-02-14. 2019-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211131933/http://rosaerosystems.ru/airships/obj676.
8. Web site: 2015-12-21. Airships. rosaerosystems.ru. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093059/http://rosaerosystems.ru/airships/obj676.