Catalogue description Admiralty and Air Ministry: Royal Airship Works and Balloon Development Establishment: Drawings

This series contains drawings of various types of balloons and their constructional details.

The following is a breakdown of the information contained in AVIA 24 (the dates supplied in the list are those of the surviving drawings):

• AP Type: Italian observation balloon designed by Major Avorio and Dr. Pressone in 1916. Some used as barrage balloons around London, 1917-1918. About 20-30 made in this country. The last one used for testing the winch on Cardington Airship Tower in 1929. Several sizes:763, 800, 900, 1050, 1100 and 2000 cubic metres respectively. AVIA 24 /1-63 Dates of drawings: 1918-1931 Series: KB and KB/7, Misc. and D to E
• B Type: No information available AVIA 24/64-88 Dates of drawings: 1917-1918 Series: E4
• HI Type: Expanding type barrage balloon designed to fly at 15000' during hours of darkness. French. 6 purchased for trials. None manufactured in this country. AVIA 24/ 89-103 Dates of drawings: 1936-1937 Series: KB/HI
• HZ Type: High Zone balloon. 32000 cubic ft. Of light silk fabric. Flown to 14000' for calibration purposes. Only a few made. AVIA 24/104-152 Dates of drawings: 1937-1939 Series: KB/HZ
• HZ-A Type: High Zone balloon. 42000 cubic ft. Made to carry load to 10000'. Used at Cardington to carry meteorological instruments to 5000'. AVIA 24/153-187 Dates of drawings: 1938-1939 Series: KB/HZ-A
• LZ Type: Low Zone balloon. 19000 cubic ft. Wartime barrage balloon converted from SO type (q.v.). Later modified (see below). Except for LZ-A all modifications of same shape and volume. AVIA 24/188-254 Dates of drawings: 1934-1940 Series: KB/LZ
• LZ-A Type: Smaller version of LZ. 11,500 cubic ft. Intended for Low Altitude barrage. Very few made. AVIA 24/255-300 Dates of drawings: 1937-1940 Series: KB/LZ-A
• [LZ-B] Type: No drawings available. LZ modified by fitting elastic cords under the belly. Experimental type. Only 2 made: not developed because of wartime shortage of rubber. These records are wanting
• LZ-C Type: LZ fitted with smaller fins made from stronger fabric: the larger and weaker fins had proved inadequate in rough weather, more than 140 balloons being lost in one gale, because the fins tore off. AVIA 24/301-358 Dates of drawings: 1938-1940 Series: KB/LZ-C
• LZ-D to H Type:LZ-C made from different fabrics and proofings. All identical in appearance and construction. AVIA 24/359-412 Dates of drawings: 1939-1940 Series: KB/LZ-D to H
• M Type: Meteorological balloon. Various sizes. Used to take temperature, humidity and wind gust measurements at sea. AVIA 24/413-459 Dates of drawings: 1917-1922 Series: KB, KB/Misc. and D, N6a/D
• Miscellaneous Models, baskets, etc. AVIA 24/460-529 Dates of drawings: 1917-1923 Series: Various
• Nurse Type: Used to store hydrogen. Several sizes, but 5000 cubic ft. was standard. AVIA 24/530-557 Dates of drawings: 1917-1918, 1939 Series: E4, EKB, KB and KB/NB
• R Type: Develped from an M type devised by Major Caquot of the French Army as a naval observation balloon. Several modifications: an original R type fell into the hands of the Germans who improved upon the design; the Allies, obtaining a German version, further improved upon it. 36000 cubic ft. 2 passengers. Some used during the 2nd World War to observe from the South Coast of England the positions of V2 launching sites. AVIA 24/558-605 Dates of drawings: 1917-1927 Series: E4, EKB, KB and KB/E
• SO Type: Single Observer balloon. 19000 cubic ft. Designed to carry one passenger, but unsuccessful as unsteadiness in winds caused motion sickness to observer. Only 2 thought to have been made. Converted to LZ type (q.v.) by removal of basket. AVIA 24/606-647 Dates of drawings: 1932-1940 Series: KB/SO
• T Type: Training balloon. Smaller version of wartime barrage balloon. 5000 cubic ft. To train balloon crews on smaller balloon than barrage balloon to save expense and manpower. Only about 12 made. AVIA 24/648-695 Dates of drawings: 1936-1940 Series: KB/T and TZ
• Test balloons: No information available AVIA 24/696-720
• Rigid Stabilisers: Attempts to make the fins and rudders, which are filled with air or gas, of a wood or metal framework, i.e. 'rigid' Usually heavier than inflatable stablizers. Cannot be packed for transportation and more susceptible to damage. Dates of drawings: 1936-1939 Series: KB/Misc. and LZ
• W/T Type:No information available. AVIA 24/721-729 Dates of drawings: 1919 Series: KB/1-9/W/T
• [ZI] Type: No drawings available. High altitude barrage balloon to fly at 20000' made in 1926-1927. Only one made: destroyed on maiden flight. 240,000 cubic ft. These records are wanting.
• Z2 Type:Smaller version of ZI to fly at 15000'. 120,000 cubic ft. Trials at Cardington successful, but abandoned because of change in policy. Only one made. AVIA 24/730-780 Dates of drawings: 1929-1932 Series: KB/Z2

All drawings dating from 1926 onwards were made at Cardington, but the provenance of the earlier ones is obscure. The pre-1920 drawings, which were prepared by departments such as the RN Air Department, Military Aeronautics, etc., may have been produced at RAE Farnborough. It is thought that, although work on airship and balloon development at Farnborough had ceased officially in 1914, those departments might have continued their activities there. The Research and Aircraft Equipment Directorates of the Air Ministry raised drawings between 1920 and 1922, but it is not known where they were produced.

Admiralty, Naval Aircraft Works, 1917-1919

Air Ministry, Balloon Development Establishment, 1938-1940

Air Ministry, Naval Aircraft Works, 1919-1921

Air Ministry, Royal Airship Works, 1921-1936