Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle may include an envelope having a plurality of tendons and formed from a first plurality of gores. The aerial vehicle may also include one or more ballonets arranged within the envelope. An outer membrane may be arranged around at least part of the envelope and formed from a second plurality of gores. The outer membrane may include at least one panel attached at one side to the outer membrane between a pair of the second plurality of gores and attached at an opposite side to the envelope. The outer membrane may be arranged to improve aerodynamics of the envelope when the aerial vehicle is in flight.

Disclosed is a method for controlling an elongated lighter-than-air aircraft formed of a thin shell. The method includes providing a first stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a first side of a gas tank, and a second stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a second side of the gas tank, fitting control members with adjustable length through the shell of the aircraft in a gas tank space defined by the inner surface of the shell so the control members extend between the first and second stiffener, adjusting the distance between the first stiffener and the second stiffener when controlling the aircraft by means of the control members by moving the first stiffener and second stiffener in a first and a second direction opposite to each other. Further, disclosed is an aircraft.

Disclosed is a method for controlling an elongated lighter-than-air aircraft formed of a thin shell. The method includes providing a first stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a first side of a gas tank, and a second stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a second side of the gas tank, fitting control members with adjustable length through the shell of the aircraft in a gas tank space defined by the inner surface of the shell so the control members extend between the first and second stiffener, adjusting the distance between the first stiffener and the second stiffener when controlling the aircraft by means of the control members by moving the first stiffener and second stiffener in a first and a second direction opposite to each other. Further, disclosed is an aircraft.

A transformable stratospheric airship includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a foldable hull, and a plurality of cable control mechanisms provided on the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull includes a sealed body, a plurality of guide holes arranged outside the sealed body and a cable which passes through the guide holes according to a predetermined order. The cable is configured to keep a shape of the sealed body and connected to the cable control mechanisms to fix the sealed body to the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull is foldable and extendable along a vertical direction of the transformable stratospheric airship by controlling a length of the cable via the cable control mechanisms.

A transformable stratospheric airship includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a foldable hull, and a plurality of cable control mechanisms provided on the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull includes a sealed body, a plurality of guide holes arranged outside the sealed body and a cable which passes through the guide holes according to a predetermined order. The cable is configured to keep a shape of the sealed body and connected to the cable control mechanisms to fix the sealed body to the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull is foldable and extendable along a vertical direction of the transformable stratospheric airship by controlling a length of the cable via the cable control mechanisms.

A transformable stratospheric airship includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a foldable hull, and a plurality of cable control mechanisms provided on the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull includes a sealed body, a plurality of guide holes arranged outside the sealed body and a cable which passes through the guide holes according to a predetermined order. The cable is configured to keep a shape of the sealed body and connected to the cable control mechanisms to fix the sealed body to the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull is foldable and extendable along a vertical direction of the transformable stratospheric airship by controlling a length of the cable via the cable control mechanisms.

A transformable stratospheric airship includes an upper shell, a lower shell, a foldable hull, and a plurality of cable control mechanisms provided on the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull includes a sealed body, a plurality of guide holes arranged outside the sealed body and a cable which passes through the guide holes according to a predetermined order. The cable is configured to keep a shape of the sealed body and connected to the cable control mechanisms to fix the sealed body to the upper shell and the lower shell. The foldable hull is foldable and extendable along a vertical direction of the transformable stratospheric airship by controlling a length of the cable via the cable control mechanisms.

Disclosed is a method for controlling an elongated lighter-than-air aircraft formed of a thin shell. The method includes providing a first stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a first side of a gas tank, and a second stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a second side of the gas tank, fitting control members with adjustable length through the shell of the aircraft in a gas tank space defined by the inner surface of the shell so the control members extend between the first and second stiffener, adjusting the distance between the first stiffener and the second stiffener when controlling the aircraft by means of the control members by moving the first stiffener and second stiffener in a first and a second direction opposite to each other. Further, disclosed is an aircraft.

Disclosed is a method for controlling an elongated lighter-than-air aircraft formed of a thin shell. The method includes providing a first stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a first side of a gas tank, and a second stiffener on the outer surface of the shell of the aircraft on a second side of the gas tank, fitting control members with adjustable length through the shell of the aircraft in a gas tank space defined by the inner surface of the shell so the control members extend between the first and second stiffener, adjusting the distance between the first stiffener and the second stiffener when controlling the aircraft by means of the control members by moving the first stiffener and second stiffener in a first and a second direction opposite to each other. Further, disclosed is an aircraft.