., .
UNITED STATES NAVY
·K-TYPE AIRSHIPS
PILOT'S MANUAL
RESTRICTED
CONTRACTS NOs-78121 and NOa(s)-257
GOODYEAR AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
AKRON, OHIO
First Issue: Sept ., 1942
Revised Issue: Sept. , 1943
THE CONTENTS OF THIS MANUAL ARE
RESTRICTED
EXTRACT FR0M ESPIONAGE ACT
"Section ' 31. Unlawfully obtaining or
permi ttlng to b~ obtai'Hed information effect
ing National Defense.***; or (d) whoever,law
fully or unlawfu+ly having possess :ion of,:
access to, contr .Ql over, or being intrusted
.with any document, -writing, code book, : signal
book, sketch, photograph, photographic nega
tive, plan, blueprint, map, model, ins~rumen~
a~pliance, or note relating to the National
Defense, willfully communicates or transmits
or attempts to communicate or transmit the
same to any person not entitled to receive
it, or willfully re~ains rthe same ·and f~ils
to deliver it . on demand to the officer or
employee of the United States entitled to re
ceive it, or (e) whoever, being intrusted
with or having lawful possession or control
of any document, writing, code book, signal
book, sketch, photograph,_ photographic nega
tive, blueprint, plan, _map, model, note, or
information relating to the National Defense,
through gross negligence permits the same to
be removed from its proper place of custody
or delivered to anyone in violation of his
trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted or
destroyed, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than . $10,000 or by imprisonment for not
more than two years or both."
P/2£FAf!E
The information herein is designed to embody only
such material as may be of value to the pilot and the
crew of the K-airship during flight operations. Further
descriptive matter vital to the ship and its care is set
forth in the Specification and Maintenance Manuals.
While this manual is not intended to serve as an
infallible gtiide for all flight operations, some of the
more advanced points of aerostatics are included for ready
reference.
Amendments will be made when significant changes
in future airships occur.
The Goodyear Aircraft Corporation welcomes sug
gestions for the improvement of the airship and its equip
ment, and invites constructive criticism of this manual.
Such suggestions will be cordially entertained and accorded
the most careful consideration.
7A8l£ OF &ONTENTS
PART I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A. DIMENSIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1.
2.
3.
4· 5.
6.
Overall Dimensions ....... .............. .......
Envelope
Ballonets
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . Tail Surfaces
We:ights and Lift
Power Plants
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....•..•••..••..•...••..••......
B. AVERAGE PERFORMANCE . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART II. FLIGHT AND FLIGHT CONTROL
A. FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1.
2.
3.
4· 5.
6.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Static Lift
Static Trim
Dynamic Lift
Factors of Safety
Weight Empty
. . . . •· . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......•....•.......•.• ·-· ...... .
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Useful Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. ENVELOPE PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.
2.
General Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j ..
!C.
Scoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valve Settings
Pressure Regulation
Air Valve Adjustment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take-Off
Climb
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Level Flight
Descending
Landing
Shifting Air
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blowing Air into the Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 10
3. Gas Release System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. Gas Valves . . . . . ....
b. Rip Panels ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4· Controls and Auxiliaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. Valve Controls . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .
b. Damper Control . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . .
c. Manometers .... . ... . . . . ... . .
d. Starting Auxiliary Blower .....
e-. Stopping Blower . . . . . . . . .....
f. La Del Electric Blower . . . . ....
5. Summary: Pressure Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a.
b.
c.
Settings
Controls,
Operation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instruments & Auxiliaries Chart ...
Chart . .......•..... ...•...........
C. MAJOR CONTROLS . ......•............•..•...•.........
D. RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E. HANDLING LINES .....••..•••...•....••.........••.••
PART III. POWER PLANT
A. ENGINES .................................. ·-....... .
1. General Characteristics . . . ..
2. Starting .. . . .
3. Warming Up . . . . . . . .
4· Ground Test . . . . •• . ..
5. Take-Off . . . . . . . ....
6. Cruising . . . . . .. . .
7. Single Engine Operation . . . .
8. Stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....
9. Operating Limits and Charts ...... . ....
44 45 45
45 45 45
B. FUEL SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
c. RECOMMENDED CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT •·• ........ .
D. OIL SYSTEM ...................................
PART IV. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
B.
c.
D.
E.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DISTRIBUTION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
CONTROL BOXES AND CUT-OUTS ............. ........
1 •. Carbon Pile Regulator • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2. Service Troubles . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LOCATION OF COMPONENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.
2.
3.
4· 5.
6.
Switches ••..•.••.........•.....•...•..•.. -
Automatic Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instruments
Cooking
Lamps
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . ·• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LAWRANCE AUXILIARY GASOLINE POWERED ELECTRIC
GENERATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.
2.
3.
4· 5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
Specifications •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Preparations for starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual Star.ting ........... ................. .
Warm Up . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overload · Caution
Overspeed C~t-Out
Stopping the Engine
.................... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART V. MISCELLANEOUS
A.
B.
c.
D.
HEATING SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTE1! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BOMB HATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SERVICE ENGINEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E. NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
94 94 94 94 94
Fig. I
Fig. XX
Fig. III
Fig. IV
Fig. V
Fig. VI
Fig. VII
Fig. VIII
Fig. IX
Fig. X
F:i,g. XI
Fig. XII
Superheat Chart
Helium Purity
.....................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dynamic Lift Chart
Take-Off Chart
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Pressure System
Air Scoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Pressure in Excess of Gas Pressure
- VS - % Fullness of Ballonets at Zero
Pitch Angle at Standard Unit Lift
Conditions ···············~··········
36" Air Valve, K-3 thru K-53, Excl. of
K-49 ........•.......•..............•
36" Air Valve, K-49, K-54 & Future •••
Helium Inflation Sleeve
Flight & Instrument Panel
Starting Auxiliary Blower
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
Fig. XIII Controls, Instruments & Auxiliaries
Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Fig. XIV Operation Chart - Pressure Control
Sys tern • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 7
Fig. XV Major Controls •••••.••••.•••.••.•••. 48
Fig. :xvi
Fig. XVII
Top of Landing Gear Strut . . . . . . . . . . .
Landing Gear Shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fig. XIX
Fig. XX
Fig. XXI
Fig. XXII
Fig. XXIII
Fig. XXIV
Fig. "XXV
Fig. XXVI
Horse Power VS. Manifold Pressure
(Sea Level Performance) ••••••••.••••••
Horse Power VS. Manifold Pressure
(1500 Ft. Altitude Performance)
Power Curves for Pratt & Whitney
Engine Model H.P.. -1340-AN-2
.......
(At Sea Level) •••••••.•••••.••••••••••
Power Curves for Pratt & ~~itney
Engine Model HR - 1340-~~-2
(At 1500 Ft. Altitude) ................. .
Fuel Consumption & R.P.M. - VS.
Air Speed (K-3 thru K-8) ....•..•...•.
Fuel Consumption & R.P.M. - VS.
Air Speed (K-57 & Future) •••••••••••••
Economical Air Speeds
Mechanic's Check ·Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fig. XXVII Fuel System .•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 71
Fig. XXVIII Fuel System, Schematic Diagrams
(K-3 thru K-10) ••••••••••••••••••••.••
Fig. XXIX
Fig. X"XX
Fig. XXXI
Fuel System, Schematic Diagrams
(K-11 and Future) •••••••••••••••••••••
Oil System, K-3 thru K-74 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oil System, K-75 and Future ...........
Fig. XXXII Electrical Load Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fig. X"XXIII Auxiliary Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fig. XXXIV Generator Control Box and Battery
72 - 76
77 - 81
Ins tall a tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Fig. XXXV Spare Lamp Data Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 - 98
Fig. XXXVI Electric Fuse Data Chart . ·-· ........... 99 - 101
Fig. XXXVII Auxiliary Generator and Blower . . . . . . . . 104
Fig .. XXXVIII Heating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
PART I
(/Eh'l:R.Al 1J£SfJRIPTIOA'
--- ,71" " :.,.
_,r;_~::~~~-~-:_ ",,, ... :;~;~~~!
:-:::. .
========!. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A. DIMENSIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
1. Overall Dimensions - Feet
Height
Width
Length
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Envelope
Theoretical:
VolllDle, 0u.Ft. ••••••••••••••••••••
Surface Area, Sq. Yds •••••••••••••••
Length, Ft. . ....•...•. ..............•
Diameter, Ft. . .••........•••.....••.
Fineness or Slenderness Ratio •••••••
·Maximum Section from Bow, Ft. • ••••••
Center of Buoyancy, Ft. • •••••••••••
Demonstrated Volume (with .stretch)
Cu. Ft. . ..•................•....•
3. Ballonets
Volume - CU.Ft.:
Forward ••••••••••••••••••
Aft •••••••••••••..•••••••
Total ••••••••••••••••••••
Per Cent Envelope Volume
Surface Area- Sq. Yds.:
Forv1ard ••••••••••••••••••
Aft ...................... .
Total •••••••••••••••••••••
-1-
to K-6
55,700
58,400
114,100
27.5
~
K-3 K-14
to K-13 & Future
79.00
62.50
248.50
416,000
3,900
246.00
57.85
4-~5
98.40
112.40
424,600
79.00
62.50
251.70
' 425,000
3,965
57.85
4-31 98.40
113.95
435,000
K-7 K-14
to K-13 & Future
53,000 58,950
58.400 61,600
111,400
26.8
120,550
27.7%
544 562
;
4· Tail Surfaces - Sq. Ft.
5.
Fins:
Horizontal (2) ••••••••••••••••
Top (1) ••••••••••••••••••••••
Bottom (1) •••••••••••••••••••
Total •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rudders:
Top (1·) .••......•..•.....•.••.
Bottom (1) •••••••••••••••••••
Total •••••••••••••••••••••••••
Elevators (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GRAND TOTAL - Tail Surfaces ..
Weight and Lift - Lbs.
to K-8
Gross Lift (Based on 62 lbs.
per 1000 Cu.Ft.with stretch) 26,325
Approximate Total Weight,
17,600 Empty • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Approximate Useful Lift •• 8,725
Ratio Useful Lift to Gross
Lift .•......••.•.......•.. .331
All Ships
...2.2. * 199
K-9 K...;l4
to K-1.3 &: Future
26,325 26,970
18,350 18,430
7,975 8,540
.303 .310
6. Power Plants
K-3 to K-8: Engines (2) Wright, Model R-975-28, Direct
Drive-Horsepower, each 420 H.P. at 2200 RPM
Propellers (2) - Three Blades - 9•on Diameter.
K-9 &: Future:Engines (2) Pratt &: Whitney Wasp, Model R-1340
-AN2, Geared 3:2
Horsepower, each - 425 H.P. at 1775 RPM
Propellers (2) - Three Blades - 12'0" Diameter
Propeller Pitch: Diameter Pitch Setting at 42" Station
12'6"
12'0"
11'6"
*Inboard aft corner cut to prevent
puncturing the envelope during
heavy landings.
-2-