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.

## Contents

* 1 Development
* 2 Design
* 3 Operational history
* 4 Specifications (White Dwarf)
* 5 References
* 6 Further reading
* 7 External links

## 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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Comic has gas of time pedaling White Dwarf - UPI Archives". https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/28/Comic-has-gas-of-time-pedaling-White-Dwarf/3498465192000/.
2. ↑ Medearis, John (February 27, 1990). "Radio-Controlled Blimp Uses Stealth Technology at 28 M.P.H.". https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-27-fi-1370-story.html.
3. ↑ [1] 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

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