Aerodynamic fairing system for airship

A powered airship, comprising:

• a substantially spherical balloon portion having an exterior surface;
• an inflatable fairing attached around the exterior surface of the balloon portion;
• and
• a fairing actuation mechanism for selectively inflating and deploying the fairing after lift-off of the airship, and deflating and retracting the fairing before landing of the airship.

A powered airship, comprising:

• a balloon portion including a propulsion mechanism and having an exterior surface;
• an inflatable fairing removably attached around the exterior surface of the balloon portion;
• and
• a fairing actuation mechanism for selectively inflating and deploying the fairing after lift-off of the airship, and deflating and retracting the fairing before landing of the airship, wherein the fairing actuation mechanism comprises:
• an inflation/deflation mechanism in the fairing that is operable to selectively inflate and deflate the fairing;
• and
• a winch and cable mechanism connecting the balloon portion and the fairing, the winch and cable mechanism being selectively operable to deploy the fairing as it is inflated, and to retract the fairing as it is deflated.

A method of deploying and retracting an inflatable aerodynamic fairing attached to a balloon portion of a powered airship, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a plurality of winches on the balloon portion, a cable attached between each of the winches and the fairing, and an inflation/deflation mechanism in the fairing;
• b) deploying the fairing by inflating the fairing while the winches are operated to provide sufficient slack in the cables to allow the full inflation of the fairing;
• and
• c) retracting the fairing by deflating the fairing while the winches are operated to pull in the cables so as to retract the fairing.