Retired computer engineer creates flying replica of 1935 Airship

What you see above is a 20-foot long wonder of a kite? Jack Clemens spent two and a half years to produce it and has become a kite runner in the process. You can not be more misguided to neutralize his efforts. Clemens, a retired computer engineer, had always felt a particular pull towards the USS Macon that served the US Navy before being lost in the year 2005. Clemens wanted to produce a functional airship, modeled on Helium-filled Macon.

Functional Model Airship

Perhaps he was too impressed with that fishlike structure of the airship. Perhaps he knew much about those airships which use fish-like propulsion mechanism. However, his first attempt to really come out with a replica was destroyed by his cat, when it jumped upon a prototype developed by him. As it ruined the hull of it, Clemens had to think of redoing it from the beginning. He developed a second version in 2008 but that too had a limited time to live. His test flight against hard winds made him lose the second one too.

Finally, his dogged efforts bore results in April this year. Now, his 20-foot long radio controlled biomimetic replica can fly in the sky for 45 minutes at a stretch. Clemens agrees that he thought of mimicking that balsa wood structure of Macon to its exact details. He tried to ensure some precision in size. He could not care too much of the skin of his model. He just thought of making it just right and so a lightweight Mylar was used in his model. Definitely, he had toughness and color issues also played in his mind.

After that outward do, Clemens had to calculate the power needs of his model airship. He worked out that it would need at least eight small modeled air-propellers at its sides. These are powered by 2.5 ounce lithium-polymer battery. this battery sits upon the airship's nose and also does some balancing acts.

Now, what does Clemens do with his model? He has got pride of an effort and intends to donate his creation to some museum for a show. He is not the one to make his wife's garage perpetually unavailable to her. And, he is also open to sale it for just $6,000.

Via: PopSci/Neatorama