********************************************* ** Zeppelin NT /LZ N07/ ** 1996. July. 30. ** ********************************************* At first I would like to apologize to everybody for the previous ZEP1.ZIP archive. I have included a bad .air file with a useless flight model. In those days I had some alternativ experimenting flight models and it was my misstake to zip the bad one. So if You have downloaded the zep1.zip archive the files in this zep2.zip will overwrite the bad old files. USAGE BAO's Flight Simulator Flight Shop is required to use this aircraft model. Copy the ZEP1.AIR file to your FS5 \PILOTS directory. Copy all the ZEP1.?AF files to your FS5 \TEXTURE directory. If You want to modify or improve the model copy the ZEP1.AFX, *.R8, *.PCX files in a newly created directory under Your FSFS Aircraft Factory directory, and unpack the project with Aircraft Factory. The model has been created by Tamas Palosi, dagent@msn.com It is freeware. If You modify the model do not forget to let know. The ZEPPELIN About 60 years before on may 6, 1937, at Lakehurst (New Jersey) ended the era of the huge airships with the catastrophe of the largest flying machine ever built the zeppelin named "Hindenburg". The zeppelin is a lighter than air flying machine, a fully controllable airship with a rigid aluminum frame construction powered by piston engines. The first zeppelins were built at Lake Constance (Friedrichshafen) in Germany, designed by the count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900. The huge hull contained not only the helium or hydrogen filled cells to provide buoyancy and the sophisticated machinery to control the volume of the cells but the passenger deck with first class accommodation. Passengers slept in comfortable staterooms, lounged in front of picture windows and enjoyed fine cuisine in plush dining rooms. Even a private Jumbo Jet seems to be a doghouse compared to the luxury roomy zeppelin. The Hindenburg was 803 feet long and had a diameter of 134 feet. There were 100 passengers on board, powered by four 1000 HP diesel engines. It had a weight of 423.500 lb. and had a cruising speed about 80 mph. Zeppelins were used for regular passenger flights from Europe to the US and Brazil. The ZEPPELIN NT Based on the experience and traditions of the famous Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Ltd. a new airship type is going in production in Friedrichshafen, Germany: the Zeppelin NT (NT like new technology). Using the newest technology and materials this type of zeppelin is very safe and economical. It is filled with helium and the very robust frame construction makes it rigid even if the gas pressure inside is going low. The Zeppelin NT is very maneuverable with special arrangement of the four propellers, and is able to land exactly without the help of ground personnel. The LZ N07 The Zeppelin LZ N07 is the very first of the Zeppelin NT series and the very first airship built in Friedrichshafen Germany after WWII. It is very environment friendly, and very economic because it does not need to burn fuel to lift off, but because of the rigid construction it is much more safer controllable and can be built bigger then a balloon or a blimp. It is mainly used for environmental researches over big areas like forests. Length: 68.4m Volume: 7200m3 Power: 3 x 200 HP Lycoming Speed: 140 km/h Altitude: 2500m About the model The making of this FSFS model was inspired by a visit in the Zeppelin Museum at Friedrichshafen in Germany at the Lake Constance. Visitors can board a rebuilt section of the hull and the passenger deck of the most famous zeppelin the Hindenburg. Even this relatively small rebuilt section is impressive in size and volume. The museum presents not only the zeppelins of the past but the future possibilities like the Zeppelin NT. In the souvenir shop of the museum I could get some "technical drawings" of the Zeppelin NT, but not a single one about the Hindenburg. This is my first project using FSFS. I never thought that I will use the Aircraft Factory, because I have some experience with real 3D CAD systems and do not like to work with a stone ax. After completing the work I think a stone ax is a very sophisticated tool compared to Aircraft Factory. About the flight dynamics. I do not think that the very simple flight model in Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1 was ever intended to simulate airships or even helicopters. So the flight model of the Zeppelin NT is not authentic. I tried to mix up an ultralight with a heavy jet and a helicopter, because the flight model using the real parameters of the Zeppelin NT was disastrous. The trick is to use near as real huge inertia without weight, set stall speed as low as possible, add a lot of wing and flaps. Of course this method gives very limited results, because the software algorithm uses precalculated tables for normal airplanes, and so some internal variables will get over or under run very easily. If You want You can tune up the flight model as You wish. How to fly At first: set reality level to 1 not to get crazy the simulator. I would not use autocoordination, but if You do not have a rudder, use it. To take off set full flaps, apply a little power (10-20%) and be ready to push the stick forward to keep the airship leveled. If You do it right You will fly near vertical at about 10-12 knots in a near horizontal position. Oh, do not forget, gears up, and the fastening ropes will disappear on the visual model. What a magic of software technology. Do not apply too much power, in reality a zeppelin will take off without engine power. If You are high enough apply more power, and reduce flap step by step. With no flaps You will fly at about 60-70 knots. Do not fly faster than 70 knots it gets crazy. Turn gently. The zeppelin is huge it has a very great inertia. I had to increase the effect of the stick to make the zeppelin controllable at very low speeds, so now at 70 knots be careful not to overstress the ship. Landing is easy. Jump out, or try to do everything backwards. Copyright This is freeware. If You like it, use it, copy it, upload-download it. You can modify it, the afx file is included. If You can make it better, let me know. And if You have the opportunity visit the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen in Germany, and think about those who had crossed the Atlantic aboard these luxury dinosaurs of the air. Author Tamas Palosi Budapest Hungary e-mail: dagent@msn.com PS: All trademarks and faults are properties of their owners.