Conceptual design of solar powered rigid airship

Aim of this thesis is to research civil purposed solar airships in the frame of applicability and predictable economic constraints. In basic this thesis tries to handle the topic in two questions. First of all is it possible to move a solar powered airship and by this move is it possible to maintain physical rigidity for a safe use? As a second question is it possible for an airship manufactured on this basis can compete with "traditional" means of transport? In order to reach this goal design criteria of 3 different airship which are being designed or already in service and analytically solved. Main reference and source of inspiration is Gabriel Alexander Khoury's solar airship approach. To discuss other related topics within the thesis which are history of airships, types, working principles, aerostructures, weight and balance control, solar power system and other systems, articles, aircraft maintenance manuals, websites and conference publications were used within a time period between 1940 and 2015. Results of this thesis show that, even if some of the months during the year in high longitudes, airships perform below design goals, airships may be operated in low speeds efficiently. There is no such a problem in low longitudes. High altitudes always increase the efficiency. Economic aspects which are studied by 2 different case studies and 2 different examples as a second result of this study, solar airships have supremacy on supply lines with no infrastructures, lines with a need of new infrastructure and complex supply chains.