White Dwarf (dirigible)

White Dwarf
White Dwarf
General information
Type	Human powered dirigible
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Aerosystems Inc
Designer	Bill Watson; Bryan Allen
History
First flight	28 August 1984

Last updated December 28, 2025

The White Dwarf is a human-powered dirigible built in 1984 that set several world records.

Development

The White Dwarf was commissioned and funded by comedian Gallagher, whose interest in airships was sparked by a radio-controlled flying watermelon prop he used in his stage act.^[1] It was constructed by Bill Watson, who was part of the team that built the Gossamer Albatross human-powered craft.^[2]

Design

The dirigible features a teardrop-shaped lift bag. The aluminum fuselage is a truss design with a single pilot seat on top with a chain-driven pusher propeller, 64 inches in length, positioned in front of a rudder. It weighs 150 lb (68 kg).^[1]^[3]

Operational history

The White Dwarf set several world records with pilot (and engine) Bryan Allen. It was flown a distance of 58.08 mi (93 km) in 8 hours and 50 minutes.^[4]

Specifications (White Dwarf)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86^[5]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 48 ft (15 m)
Diameter: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Height: 27 ft (8.2 m)
Volume: 6,200 cu ft (180 m³)
Empty weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 390 lb (177 kg)
Propellers: 2-bladed, 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 14 mph (23 km/h, 12 kn)
Cruise speed: 8.0 mph (13 km/h, 7.0 kn)
g limits: g

References

1 2 Cardoso, Bill (September 28, 1984). "Comic has gas of time pedaling White Dwarf". UPI.
↑ Medearis, John (February 27, 1990). "Radio-Controlled Blimp Uses Stealth Technology at 28 M.P.H." Los Angeles Times.
↑ Archived May 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine The White Dwarf Flies Again
↑ Sugar, James & Stephan Wilkinson (June 1986). "Who Is Bryan Allen?". Air and Space Magazine: 53.
↑ Taylor, John W. R.; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1985). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 770. ISBN 0710608217 . Retrieved February 5, 2025.

External links

YouTube Video of White Dwarf

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[COMIC-1] 1 2 Cardoso, Bill (September 28, 1984). "Comic has gas of time pedaling White Dwarf". UPI.

[LATIMES-2] Medearis, John (February 27, 1990). "Radio-Controlled Blimp Uses Stealth Technology at 28 M.P.H." Los Angeles Times.

[TELEPORT-3] Archived May 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine The White Dwarf Flies Again

[AIRSPACE-4] Sugar, James & Stephan Wilkinson (June 1986). "Who Is Bryan Allen?". Air and Space Magazine: 53.

[JANES85-5] Taylor, John W. R.; Munson, Kenneth, eds. (1985). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985-86. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 770. ISBN 0710608217 . Retrieved February 5, 2025.

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