AIRSHIP (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: lighter-than-air flying vehicles. SUBSTANCE: airship contains at three articulated alongated sections: front section 10 with thrust creating device 22 and control surfaces 23; at least one intermediate section 12a, 12b, 12c carrying the payload and rear section 14 with control surfaces. Hinges ensure limited turn of sections in case of wind gust and return of sections to coaxial relative position when wind is absent. Streamlined form of airship may be obtained due to envelope; streamlined form may be also obtained due to rims mounted on sections which are engageable when sections are not turned relative to one another. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 14 cl, 24 dwg