We conducted a float test of our baby airship the Ascender 26 Saturday. It was a great shake out. The new internal configuration worked great. The inner cell held the helium but the outer envelope just won’t hold air. The outer envelope is about 11 years old, we’re recycling it from another program. The outer silicone coating it just about gone. The result was a very floppy vehicle. On the first float we usually just go a few inches off the ground and see how sound the structure is. However even with a floppy envelope we pushed a little and got her a few feet into the sky.
Just a few inches off the ground.
Charles and Steve working the valves.
Even with zero pressure in the outer envelope the inner cell system and the carbon keel performed well.