White Dwarf (dirigible)

White Dwarf
Role	Human powered dirigible
National origin	United States
Designer	Watson, Allen

The White Dwarf is a human-powered dirigible built in 1984 that set several world records.

Development

The White Dwarf was commissioned and funded by comedian Gallagher, whose interest in airships was sparked by a radio-controlled flying watermelon prop he used in his stage act.[1] It was constructed by Bill Watson, who was part of the team that built the Gossamer Albatross human-powered craft.[2]

Design

The dirigible features a teardrop-shaped lift bag. The aluminum fuselage is a truss design with a single pilot seat on top with a chain-driven pusher propeller, 64 inches in length, positioned in front of a rudder. It weighs 150 lb (68 kg).[3][1]

Operational history

The White Dwarf set several world records with pilot (and engine) Bryan Allen. It was flown a distance of 58.08 mi (93 km) in 8 hours and 50 minutes.[4]

Specifications (White Dwarf)

Data from Air & Space

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 45 ft (14 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Bryan Allen Human, .5 hp (0.37 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• g limits: 5 g

References

1. Cardoso, Bill (September 28, 1984). "Comic has gas of time pedaling White Dwarf". UPI.
2. Medearis, John (February 27, 1990). "Radio-Controlled Blimp Uses Stealth Technology at 28 M.P.H." Los Angeles Times.
3. [1] Archived May 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine The White Dwarf Flies Again
4. Sugar, James & Stephan Wilkinson (June 1986). "Who Is Bryan Allen?". Air and Space Magazine: 53.

Further reading

• Clément-Bayard No.1

External links

• YouTube Video of White Dwarf