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. 1 2 "Comic has gas of time pedaling White Dwarf - UPI Archives". UPI.
  2. ↑ Medearis, John (February 27, 1990). "Radio-Controlled Blimp Uses Stealth Technology at 28 M.P.H." Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ 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

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