Float through the air with the Aeroscraft ML866 aircraft by Aeros
Take a look at this new airship from Aeros. The idea here is to combine the principles of propeller driven aircraft with that of the airship, like the infamous Hindenburg. That ship was able to travel at over 80 miles per hour carrying 100 tons with only 1200 horsepower. Of course, it also blew up. But modern technology can fix the problems inherent with the design of the old airship. Click here for an interview from Eco Geek with Ron Hochstetler, an expert on the subject of airships.
If you are still interested in the idea, why not check out this other post from Eco Geek on personal blimps. I'm not so sure that I am ready to commute by blimp, but I am certainly willing to read about it!
[Source: Eco Geek and Gizmag]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 12:06PM (8/09/2007)
Modern airships could indeed fill a number of economically interesting niches:
- sustainable logging
- installing heavy equipment on top of buildings
- mail delivery
- real-time traffic updates to satnav systems
- wireless broadband communications relay for mobile users and/or sparsely populated areas
- disaster response management & relief
- fighting forest fires:
+ water ingest at low altitude using a short hose filled with residual water to avoid damaging the on-board pumps
+ water delivery from higher altitude to avoid exposing the hull to flames and high heat
All of the above are non-passenger applications, in addition to the obvious airborne advertising and sightseeing/eco-tourism opportunities.
The real problem is that airships are very hard to maneuver, much less land, in high winds. Engine gondolas that can swivel 360 degrees should be a core feature of future designs. Also, the hull design should reduce susceptibility to cross-winds, e.g. via an elliptical rather than a circular cross-section (same ratio of area to circumference, therefore not heavier).
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Murc 11:06PM (8/10/2007)
Blimps need to make a comeback.
I would like to ride on one over the grand canyon and/or New York....that would be pretty sweet. It would feel like a smooth glide, ans it would be nice and quite.
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