We have fabricated the full-scale wing and rudder
for a prototype StratoSail® Balloon Guidance System (BGS). The following pictures show the completed wing.
It is naturally very important to keep weight to an
absolute minimum for balloon systems. The hanging arrangement
of the wing helps keep the structural weight low because
the load-bearing elements are working in tension rather
than in bending. The weight of the wing is quite a bit
greater than the aerodynamic forces since the air is
so thin and the relative airspeed is quite low compared
with aircraft.
|
