helium and sealed so that once it achieves its float altitude it expands and pressurizes, taking on the pumpkin shape.
Within the main balloon there is a smaller one called a “ballonet”. This serves
as ballast and forms the heart of the Thunderhead steering system. Air is introduced into the ballonet using a pump in order to permit the balloon to modify its
weight for ascent or descent. While it is not possible to directly control course or
speed, altitude changes allow the balloon to take advantage of different wind patterns at different altitudes for navigation. The balloon is also equipped with a
valve at the top that vents helium. The flight time of the system ranges from merely
a couple of hours to longer than 30 days.
The Lightning Balloon System provides a logistics-optimized and costoptimized solution for support of military tactical operations. The zero-pressure
balloon can be hand-launched by a two-person team from a small vehicle or a
boat. For small payloads of up to 25 lb, typical missions range from a few hours
to a few days.
Raven Aerostar’s Sounding Balloons have been used to gather meteorological
data in the most demanding conditions for decades. Created for light payloads,
they provide a predictable, consistent performance for short duration missions.
Ease of launch permits rapid deployment from a wide range of locations for a
variety of missions:
• Scientific research.
• Pollution monitoring.
• Remote communications.
• Radar calibration.
• Research and development of sensors.
• High altitude radiosonde flights.
• Ozonesonde flights in polar wintertime.
5.4.7 Airships
In 1969 Raven Industries became the first entity to fly an unmanned stratospheric
airship. High Platform II achieved powered flight at 70,000 ft for 2 hours carrying
a 5 lb telemetry and propulsion payload. In 2005 the company teamed up with the
Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, CO to develop the HiSentinel, a tactical
high altitude airship capable of station-keeping for 30-90 days. On a flight lasting
5 hours it lifted a 60 lb user payload and telemetry pod to 74,000 ft, and achieved
powered flight for 1.5 hours. Additional test flights were undertaken in 2008 and
2010.
For the last 40 years, companies have been challenged with flying an unmanned
airship at 60,000-70,000 ft, an altitude range in which the requirements are highly
complex and interdependent. Raven Aerostar continues extensive development of
the next high altitude airship today.
5.4 Raven Indutstries/Aerostar 103
Within the main balloon there is a smaller one called a “ballonet”. This serves
as ballast and forms the heart of the Thunderhead steering system. Air is introduced into the ballonet using a pump in order to permit the balloon to modify its
weight for ascent or descent. While it is not possible to directly control course or
speed, altitude changes allow the balloon to take advantage of different wind patterns at different altitudes for navigation. The balloon is also equipped with a
valve at the top that vents helium. The flight time of the system ranges from merely
a couple of hours to longer than 30 days.
The Lightning Balloon System provides a logistics-optimized and costoptimized solution for support of military tactical operations. The zero-pressure
balloon can be hand-launched by a two-person team from a small vehicle or a
boat. For small payloads of up to 25 lb, typical missions range from a few hours
to a few days.
Raven Aerostar’s Sounding Balloons have been used to gather meteorological
data in the most demanding conditions for decades. Created for light payloads,
they provide a predictable, consistent performance for short duration missions.
Ease of launch permits rapid deployment from a wide range of locations for a
variety of missions:
• Scientific research.
• Pollution monitoring.
• Remote communications.
• Radar calibration.
• Research and development of sensors.
• High altitude radiosonde flights.
• Ozonesonde flights in polar wintertime.
5.4.7 Airships
In 1969 Raven Industries became the first entity to fly an unmanned stratospheric
airship. High Platform II achieved powered flight at 70,000 ft for 2 hours carrying
a 5 lb telemetry and propulsion payload. In 2005 the company teamed up with the
Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, CO to develop the HiSentinel, a tactical
high altitude airship capable of station-keeping for 30-90 days. On a flight lasting
5 hours it lifted a 60 lb user payload and telemetry pod to 74,000 ft, and achieved
powered flight for 1.5 hours. Additional test flights were undertaken in 2008 and
2010.
For the last 40 years, companies have been challenged with flying an unmanned
airship at 60,000-70,000 ft, an altitude range in which the requirements are highly
complex and interdependent. Raven Aerostar continues extensive development of
the next high altitude airship today.
5.4 Raven Indutstries/Aerostar 103