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The Au-30 "Argus" is a non-rigid dirigible. As of June 2017, it holds the official world record for non-stop flight distance for non-rigid airships with a volume between 3,000 and 6,000 m. In 2009–2010, it is the world record holder in six classes of non-rigid airships under the FAI from BA-05 (3,000 to 6,000 m) to the absolute BA-10 (over 100,000 m).

It was built in Kirzhach, Vladimir Oblast. The manufacturer is CJSC "Airship Center 'Augur".

Distance record

On 14 September 2008 the AU-30, which at that time belonged to CJSC "Center for Infrastructure Projects" and was operated by the subsidiary CJSC "AeroScan", flew 626 km, thereby breaking the official world record for non-stop flight distance for non-rigid airships (374.7 km), which had been set in 1990 by the British airship GA-42 with a volume of 1,200 m. The official records registered by the FAI generally poorly reflect real achievements in the field of controlled aeronautics. For example, in 1919, the US Navy non-rigid airship C-5, with a volume of 4,870 m, covered 1,894 km without landing.

Description

To maintain the internal pressure in the envelope, which is necessary for non-rigid airships, and for the static balancing of the craft, both nose and tail ballonets are used. The main areas of application for this airship are expected to be: patrolling, special control of power lines, pipelines, photo and video filming, rescue operations, and elite tourism.

Tactical and technical characteristics

Source:

• Envelope volume: 5,065 m
• Maximum ballonet volume: 1,266 m
• Envelope elongation: 4.0
• Envelope diameter: 13.5 m
• Airship length: 55 m
• Airship construction height: 17.5 m
• Airship structure weight: 3,350 kg
• Payload weight: 1,400 kg
• Maximum permissible takeoff weight: 4,850 kg
• Minimum control speed: 0 km/h
• Cruising speed: 40-80 km/h
• Maximum speed: 110 km/h
• Engine type: 2x Lom-Praga M332C
• Power of cruise engines: 2x 170 hp
• Maximum flight duration: 24 hours
• Flight duration at maximum speed: 5 hours
• Flight range at cruising speed: 1,600 km
• Ferry flight range: 3,000 km
• Maximum flight altitude: 2,500 m
• Operational flight altitude: up to 1,500 m
• Crew: 2 people
• Launch team: 4-6 people

References

1. "FAI Record File Num #15166 BA-05 (Gas airships: 3 000 to 6 000 m³)". Archived from the original on 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2017-06-15.. According to FAI rules, the record-holding airship in the category from 3,000 to 6,000 m also takes the place of the current record holder in higher categories, up to BA-10 (over 100,000 m).
2. The AU-30 airship broke the world record
3. "FAI Record File Num #15161 BA-10 (Gas airships: 100 000 m³ and above)". Archived from the original on 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
4. "RosAeroSystems". rosaerosystems.ru. Archived from the original on 2011-04-07. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
5. cf. FAI records Archived 2016-09-08 at the Wayback Machinewith Notable balloon and airship flights Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machineand a number of authoritative books and other sources on the history of controlled aeronautics
6. "Kite Balloons to Airships…the Navy's Lighter-than-Air Experience, p. 18 (PDF-file, 1.3 MB)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-04-10. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
7. "Airships". rosaerosystems.ru. Archived from the original on 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
8. "Airships". rosaerosystems.ru. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-21.

• Airships of Russia