World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

[mmugzy]

From Rocky's board..

"In June, GTE is going for 45,000 feet high-altitude test, but in July & August, they intend to go higher. This was discussed on Rocky's board and elsewhere. Also, GTE has announced that they will do a significant high-altitude test in June, but they never said it would be their highest high altitude test. "

My answer is no. I don't recall having a discussion here on the "45k feet in June". The following is what I understand to be happening. My thoughts are tied in with the 4 snippets posted below as well as other clarifications on the topic.

1) Testing to begin in June and will run for about 90 days.
That means testing should near completion the end of August if all goes well.

2) As the CEO stated there are approx. 40-50 different flight tests. Starting with low altitude tethered tests to low altitude free flight tests. This procedure will be repeated each step of the way with increased altitude.

3) If all the testing goes well and all issues are addressed at all the various altitudes, Sanswire would attempt to break the world altitude record for a rigid airship. This would be attempted at over 20k feet. According to Bob Jones(see below) about 22,500 feet. Once again, this test will be after all other testing complete
so approx end of August.

4) The June 30th goal set by the BOD's states "free flight at significant altitude". This statement eliminates any thoughts of S2 being only a few feet off the ground. As stated below they are expected to be in the middle of free flight testing so that will determine what altitude they are at by end of June.

5)Sanswire 2: Keep in mind this airship was designed to demonstrate and test all the subsystems. Sanswire has chosen to test their product in very tough conditions, up to 40K feet where the winds are very strong. The Sanswire 2 Demonstrator airship is not designed to operate above the 30-40k' altitude.

5) Test locations: Low altitude at Palmdale, high altitude and low altitude at Edwards.

___________________________________________________________

(BOD stated Goals:)
30 June 2006: "Sanswire Networks, GlobeTel's High Altitude
Airship program, will have completed the tethered testing of
its Sanswire II technology demonstrator and will have
performed an un-tethered free flight test at a significant
altitude."

(Bob Jones statement from article dated April 6th)
"The June test is designed as a technology demonstrator as Sanswire perfects the design of its product.

Sanswire President Robert A. Jones said March 31 that the company’s Sanswire 2 vehicle, measuring 38 meters long and 8 meters wide, will attempt to position itself at 6,858 meters in altitude for periods of at least several hours, and perhaps overnight."
http://www.space.com/spacenews/archive06/Sans_040306.html


(May 13th clarification from Huff:)
CEO Response:
"No, the flight tests run in two phases, tethered and free flight. You start at a very low altitude with each of them and like a staircase you go up higher each launch. So the airship has 40 to 50 different flight tests starting low and gaining altitude each launch. June 30th we are still scheduled to be in the middle of the free flight test and headed quickly towards the high altitude flight."

(5-12-2006)
Sanswire Networks, our High Altitude Airship program, is set to deliver Sanswire II, a technology demonstrator, which will test the subsystems of the airship program at low and high altitudes. The tethered testing is scheduled to start at the end of May and continue for 60 to 90 days ending with an untethered flight or free flight test at a significant record-breaking attitude. The achievements of Sanswire Networks have generated tremendous interest from both the private and government sectors. This heightened interest will be shared with you in the coming weeks.