The Return of the Airship

As a romantic idealist, airships have always appealed to me, and I hope it flies. Or at least floats. But from the point of view of an investor, I'm not sure what's different now that will enable them to be a success this time around.

 

*Now* you're talking "hydrogen economy".
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_H*

 

For more apples to apples, the Russian AN-124 is largest cargo plane available. It can haul 150 tons. A friend of mine once had to charter one years ago to ship a cogen turbine from Scotland to New Jersey. IIRC, it cost $10 grand. So the airship has it beat in cargo, and it should be cheaper to operate than a jet plane. It may even be able to make the delivery closer to the end point.
Smaller ones may make helicoptor sky cranes obsolete.

 

I just think it will be cool.
​

 

Personally, I'd like to see the return of airships and rail in a big way. It may be a little slower, but I'm wondering what beneficial effect the forced slow down might have on our Type-A society.

 

Since 1970 the market for exporting and importing cars has increased dramatically and the number and type of RO/ROs has increased also. In 1973, Japan’s K Line built the European Highway, the first Pure Car Carrier, which carried 4,200 automobiles.

 

While an airship cannot carry as much as an ocean freighter, it can carry much more, in both size and weight, than an airplane, and as noted above, eliminates the need to load and unload cargo from ships. It also requires less infrastructure to land and take off.

The first generation of airships was killed by the panic resulting from the burning of the Hindenburg, and the sensationalist radio report that covered the tragedy live. But what burned was the gas-proof skin coating (a compound closely related to rocket fuel!!!) and the fuel. A few people burned to death, but most of the deaths were of people who jumped, while most of the people who remained in the gondola survived, as it settled to Earth more gently.

U.S. blimps have an excellent safety record, and with proper care, big airships can be very safe. They are a more efficient way to carry cargo, and while slower than airplanes, they have the potential to provide extremely comfortable passenger transportation without requiring rail infrastructure and without being impeded by intervening water.

I don't know whether this company is legit or a scam, but airships are an excellent concept and I wish them success.

 

While blimps have enjoyed a good safety record, the safety record of U.S. airships was not good, and it had nothing to do with burning fabric, fuel, or hydrogen. Mostly they were destroyed by weather, which is a big factor when flying an airship. Modern weather reporting and forecasting should help in that department.

Tom

 

How about Mass Starvation, genocide, and even more wars in Africa ?

Your slow down Fantasy sounds fantastic

 

The world according to warhorse: Airships will cause mass starvation, genocide, and more wars in Africa. I guess he thinks that airships are communists.

 

That would make a great Yacht

 

I'm just saying if we slow everyting down to some Luddite paradise w no air transport we wont be able to support 6 Billion + people

 

No, I'm saying that someone else was whining about airplanes and wishing they didnt exist anymore

I'm all for airplanes and airships & even UFOs

 

Why am I not surprised?

 

ok, since the USA helps African nations by sending massive amounts of food there and a lot of organizations like Americares, Red Cross, Salvation Army etc also rely on air traffic then

if you eradicate all air traffic and rely on older technology like ships then the food that is sent to Africa for people to survive on will arrive a lot slower

which will cause mass starvation and will lead to more wars and genocide