The PADD team was invited by TIFAC to put up a display and flight demonstration of the remotely controlled airship in the Science Expo-2003 in the 90th Indian Science Congress (ISC), held at Jnana Bharati campus of Bangalore University between 3rd to 7th January 2003. The PADD team decided to refurbish the Micro airship for this purpose, with increased envelope volume and engine power, resulting in a higher performance and payload capacity.

The refurbished Micro airship (renamed as Mini airship) was extensively flight tested at Pune Gliding Center, Hadapsar, Pune between 28th to 30th December 2002, and then shipped to Bangalore on 2nd January 2003.

The Micro airship envelope and fins were put up on a static display at the TIFAC stall in the exhibition, and three separate flight demonstrations of the Mini Airship were carried out as per the following schedule at the grounds of Sports Authority of India, Bangalore

Schedule

This demonstration was witnessed by Prof. V S Ramamurthy, Secretary, DST Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, Director, VSSC Mr Srinivasa Setty Brig. M. V. Bhat, Director, Survey Training Institute, Hyderabad

This demonstration was witnessed by Dr. B. N. Suresh, Associate Director, VSSC Mr V A Thomas, Dy Director, ISAC Mr E Janardhana, Dy Director, VSSC Mr. K Gururaja of IBM

This demonstration was witnessed by Dr. A. P. J. AbdulKalam, President INDIA Dr.K. Kasturirangan, Chairman ISRO/ Secretary, DOS Ms. Vasundhara Raje, Minister of State for Space Mr V Sundararamaih, Scientific Secretary, ISRO   During some of the flights, a GPS was fitted on the airship, which recorded a maximum speed of 35 kmph, and max. altitude of 200 ft. A digital camera and video downlink were mounted on the airship, and several minutes of video footage of the venue were shot.

            Dr. Kalam  with the airship in the background

            Dr Kasturirangan with the  PADD Team

             Dr Kasturirangan near the airship

             Dr Kasturirangan near the airship

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