Abstract: In a hot air airship including an elongate gas envelope aerodynamically shaped for horizontal flight with a pressure hot air generator for pressurizing the envelope and tail members on the envelope, a gondola below the envelope and power driven member for propelling the envelope horizontally, a method and structure for releasing over pressure from the airship envelope and for regulating its ascent and descent by a variably controllable first vent in the front end of the airship and a second variably controllable vent at the aft end of the airship, each of which functions to release air at a controlled rate to cause heated air to move toward either end and cause either end to ascend.

Abstract: A hot air airship including an elongate aerodynamic shaped gas envelope carrying a pressure hot air generating means for pressurizing the envelope with heated air during flight and having inflatable hollow first tail members at the aft end for stabilizing the flight and second tail members at the aft end of the first tail members hingedly attached thereto with gas conduits extending through the hinges and both tail members inflated by the hot air of the envelope.

Abstract: A hot air airship including an elongate aerodynamic shaped gas envelope carrying a pressure hot air generator system for pressurizing the envelope with heated air during flight with tail members at the aft end of the airship for guiding and directing the direction and attitude of flight, a gondola supported from the envelope for carrying the load including a push fan for propelling it in flight, a pressurizing blower and hot air generator for carrying with the ship, a deflation opening in the airship envelope having a cap over the elongate envelope with a netting sewn over the opening outwardly of the cap and the cap attached by Velcro along its edges and permanently attached at side edges so that the fore and aft edges can be pulled away from the opening.

Abstract: A thermal airship including an elongate gas envelope of a soft flexible material with tail members on the aft end of the airship, a gondola carried below the airship hull, a first motor driving a propeller for propelling the airship horizontally, a pressurizing inflation leading into the hull, an air pressure generating mechanism for pressurizing the envelope with heated air during flight including a blower driven by a second motor positioned for moving a flow of air through the opening with a controlled burner positioned in the path of the flowing air, a drive train connected between the first motor and blower and a drive train clutch in the drive train for connecting the blower to be driven by the first motor in the event of failure of the second motor.