E-class blimp
During WW I Goodyear built three small blimps and offered them to the US government. Two were purchased for the US Navy and one for the US Army. The Navy blimps were designated E-1, F-1, and the Army airship A-1. These airships had identical cars and envelopes.
Operations
The E-1 was delivered to Pensacola in December 1918. The E-1 was flown only at Pensacola serving as a trainer at the Airship School. The E-1 was removed from service in 1924.
Specifications E-type
- Crew: 3
- Volume: 95,000 cu ft
- Ballonet: 2, total volume 16,500 cu ft
- Length: 162 ft)
- Diameter: 33 ft
- Overall height: 49.5 ft
- Useful lift: 2,050 lbs
- Armament: none
- Powerplant: One, Thomas Morse, 145 hp
Performance
- Maximum speed: 56 mph
- Cruising speed: 35 mph
- Endurance at maximum speed: 6.8 hours*
- Endurance at cruise: 19.2 hours
- Range at at maximum speed: 380 nautical miles
- Range at cruise: 602 nautical miles
- Ceiling: 8,000 feet