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Step 8Attaching the gondola, trimming and flying
As common for RC blimps, the total weight is trimmed in such a way that without power the ship slowly comes down. For the Enterprise some extra care is needed to have it float more or less horizontally. In the previous step, you already saw the main trimming weight (plasticine) on the long tail rod.
For the best control the gondola should be under the center of gravity, or somewhat in front. As The gondola itself strongly influences the center of gravity, some testing is needed. As the saucer section has no net buoyancy, the gondola and the trimming weight needs to be fairly at the back. Therefore I put the trimming weight at the far end of the aft carbon rod, in order to be able to put the gondola less to the back. The gondola is attached with some large clear tape.
Flying the Enterprise Z clearly demonstrated why airships are not shaped like the Enterprise. In the particular convention hall with powerfull and concentrated air inlets and vents, the saucer section proved to make a stable control of the flight quite difficult. In calmer air that would have been a lot easier.
For the best control the gondola should be under the center of gravity, or somewhat in front. As The gondola itself strongly influences the center of gravity, some testing is needed. As the saucer section has no net buoyancy, the gondola and the trimming weight needs to be fairly at the back. Therefore I put the trimming weight at the far end of the aft carbon rod, in order to be able to put the gondola less to the back. The gondola is attached with some large clear tape.
Flying the Enterprise Z clearly demonstrated why airships are not shaped like the Enterprise. In the particular convention hall with powerfull and concentrated air inlets and vents, the saucer section proved to make a stable control of the flight quite difficult. In calmer air that would have been a lot easier.
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