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weight and performance calculations for the Parseval PL27
Parseval PL27
role : maritime patrol, ASW, reconnaissance & bombing raids
importance : **
first flight : 8 March 1917 operational :
country : Germany
commander :
type : semi-rigid airship
production : 1 prototype
general information :
The major difference from its predecessor PL 26 was the specification of the gondola. Because it no longer met increased military requirements, it was not put to military service but instead converted to a passenger airship in 1919. The Treaty of Versailles resulted in its dismantlement in 1920.
users :
crew : 10
armament : no machine guns installed
engine : 4 Maybach HS Lu liquid-cooled 6 -cylinder inline engine 240 [hp](179.0 KW)
dimensions :
Diameter : 19.5 [m], length : 157.0 [m], gas cells :1
volume: 31300.0 [m^3]
weights :
estimated max.take-off weight : 35682 [kg]
lifting capacity : 18000.0 [kg]
empty weight operational (estimation): 17682.0 [kg] bombload : 2000.0 [kg]
estimated tank capacity : 6631 [liter] (4861 [kg])
performance :
maximum speed : 100 [km/hr] op 2000 [m]
cruise speed : 80 [km/u] op 2000 [m]
climbing speed : 600 [m/min]
estimated operational service ceiling : 3000 [m]
range: unknown
airscrew :
four fixed pitch 2 -bladed pusher airscrews with max. efficiency :0.64 [ ]
estimated diameter airscrew 2.50 [m]
angle of attack prop : 11.43 [ ]
fine pitch
reduction : 1.00 [ ]
airscrew revs : 1400 [r.p.m.]
pitch at Max speed 1.19 [m]
blade-tip speed at Vmax and max revs. : 183 [m/s]
calculation : *1* (dimensions)
calculated volume : 29141 [m^3]
fineness ratio (length/diameter) : 8.05 [ ]
calculation : *2* (fuel consumption)
oil consumption : 8.6 [kg/hr]
fuel consumption (cruise speed) : 167.1 [kg/hr] (228.0 [litre/hr]) at 77 [%] power
fuel consumption (long range cruise speed) : 167.1 [kg/hr]
distance flown for 1 kg fuel : 0.48 [km/kg]
calculation : *3* (weight)
weight engine(s) dry : 1560.0 [kg] = 2.18 [kg/KW]
weight transmission & gear (engines in fuselage) : 286.3 [kg]
weight 352 litre oil tank : 44.3 [kg]
oil tank filled with 5.4 litre oil : 4.8 [kg]
oil in engine 40 litre oil : 35.8 [kg]
fuel in engine 5 litre fuel : 3.6 [kg]
weight 97 litre gravity patrol tank(s) : 9.5 [kg]
weight radiator : 107.4 [kg]
weight exhaust pipes & fuel lines 103.0 [kg]
weight self-starter : 17.5 [kg]
weight cowling 28.6 [kg]
weight airscrew(s) (wood) incl. boss & bolts : 60.9 [kg]
total weight propulsion system : 2218 [kg](6.2 [%])
***************************************************************
fuselage skeleton (aluminium gauge : 3.42 [cm]): 7941 [kg]
bracing : 448.4 [kg]
weight envelop covering (doped linen fabric 9618 [m2]) : 3078 [kg]
weight gas cell covering (doped linen fabric 6521 [m2]) : 2087 [kg]
weight gondolas : 652.1 [kg]
weight controls + indicators: 51.3 [kg]
weight seats : 30.0 [kg]
weight other details, lighting set, etc. : 17.1 [kg]
weight transceiver : 27 [kg]
weight bomb storage : 140.0 [kg]
weight Görz bomb sight with 90 cm Zeiss-telescope: 2.5 [kg]
weight interior + equipment + fuel lines: 379 [kg]
weight engine mounts & firewalls : 36 [kg]
weight parachutes : 25 [kg]
total weight fuselage : 15332 [kg](43.0 [%])
***************************************************************
weight armament : 0 [kg]
********************************************************************
weight navigation chards,flight doc.,miscell.items : 132.9 [kg]
empty weight : 17682 [kg](49.6 [%])
weight crew : 810 [kg]
gross weight : 18492 [kg](51.8 [%])
weight cooling fluids : 147.5 [kg]
weight signal pistol with cartridges : 3.6 [kg]
weight automatic pistols with spare magazines : 12.0 [kg]
*******************************************************************
calculated operational weight empty : 18655 [kg] (52.3 [%])
weight oil for 32.0 hours flying : 299.8 [kg]
weight fuel for 29.1 hours flying : 4861 [kg]
********************************************************************
Operational weight long range reconnaissance mission : 23816 [kg](66.7 [%])
at max. cruise height of : 3900 [m]
bomb load : 2000 [kg]
operational weight long range bombing mission : 25816 [kg]
at max. cruise height of : 3150 [m]
weight hydrogen at s/l : 2222 [kg]
lifting capacity : 18438 [kg] typical disposable load
calculated useful lift at s/l : 36120 [kg]
published useful lift : 35682 [kg] (100.0 [%])
calculation : * 4 * (loading)
power loading (long range bomb mission) : 36.06 [kg/kW]
power loading (operational weight empty) : 26.06 [kg/kW]
power/volume : 23 [W/M^3]
total power : 715.9 [kW] at 1400 [r.p.m]
limit load : 1.5 [g] ultimate load : 2.2 [g] load factor : 1.1 [g]
design flight time : 11.63 [hours]
design cycles : 288 sorties, design hours : 3350 [hours]
drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0038 [ ]
lifting force at s/l : 376011 [N]
lifting force at 3000 [m] : 279059 [N]
practical ceiling (operational weight) : 3000 [m] with flying weight :26234 [kg]
theoretical ceiling (skeleton crew, part hydrogen released at height) : 6400 [m] with flying weight :18129 [kg]
climb to 3000m (operational weight without bombload) : 5.00 [min]
calculation *10* (action radius & endurance)
estimated range : 2327 [km] (29.1 [hour] flying at 80 [km/h] cruise speed)
useful load over 1000 [km]: 2000 [kg]
production : 160.00 [tonkm/hour]
oil and fuel consumption per tonkm : 1.10 [kg]
Literature :
List of Parseval airships - Wikipedia
https://luftschiff-46.de/Album/htm/zeigen_A-16.htm
DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be
regarded as indication not as facts.
Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights
and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.
Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data
is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information
so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/
content please mail to below mail address
(c) B van der Zalm 10 May 2023 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com python 3.7.4
notes :