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World's Largest Airship Inflated to Create Monster 'Stratellite'
Space.com ^ | 5/20/10

Posted on 05/24/2010 10:48:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

A huge inflatable vehicle as long as a 23-floor skyscraper is tall has become the world's largest airship in its bid to serve as a stratospheric satellite, or "stratellite," according to its developers.

The 235-foot (72 m) long airship, known as the Bullet 580, has a top speed of 80 mph (129 km/h) and can serve as a high-flying sentinel that stays aloft for long periods of time. Getting the new sky behemoth inflated required six hours inside Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Ala.

"Our airships are radically different designs that move beyond the performance limitations of traditional blimps or zeppelins by combining advanced technology with simple construction and the ability to fuel with algae, protecting our environment," said Michael Lawson, chairman and CEO of E-Green Technologies.

The airship is designed to carry payloads of up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg) at altitudes of 20,000 feet (6,096 m). Any cargo aboard the airship would sit within an outer envelope made from a new type of Kevlar, or the same material used to build bulletproof vests. That allows the envelope to have a width just one-sixteenth of an inch thick, but still be 10 times stronger than steel.

Airships have undergone a resurgence of interest as both military and civilian operators eye their cost-efficient operations compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. But even the modern record-holder for size dwindles in comparison to airships back in their heyday, such as the 804-foot (245 m) Hindenberg.

E-Green Technologies considers the Bullet 580 as the first in a wave of airships in production for commercial use. It acquired the airship's developers, 21st Century Airships, in November 2009.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: airship; inflated; monster; stratellite
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An artist's depiction of the E-Green Technologies Bullet 580 Airship. Credit: Wade Buffington/EGT
1 posted on 05/24/2010 10:48:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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The first inflation of the E-Green Technologies Bullet 580 Airship occurred at Garrett Coliseum
in Montgomery, Alabama, on Monday, May 17, 2010.(Photo: George Schellenger)
2 posted on 05/24/2010 10:50:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Chuck DeVore - CA Senator. Believe.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Soon to be over cities near you.


3 posted on 05/24/2010 10:50:20 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Soon to be over cities near you.

hence the kevlar to protect cargo and crew. :-)


4 posted on 05/24/2010 10:51:08 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Chuck DeVore - CA Senator. Believe.)
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To: NormsRevenge

So, is it rigid or not? I’d love to see a carbon-fiber framed zeppelin floated with helium to provide passenger service again.


5 posted on 05/24/2010 10:51:41 AM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: driftdiver

bttt


6 posted on 05/24/2010 10:52:26 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: NormsRevenge

I think they’ll be WAY above small-arms range.


7 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:08 AM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: NormsRevenge

it’s like a giant tylenol without wings!


8 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:21 AM PDT by steveo (2010 never again)
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To: NormsRevenge
You call that an airship? This is an airship ...
9 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:29 AM PDT by Scythian
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To: NormsRevenge

2000 lb is a mighty small payload for a vehicle that large.


10 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:31 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: NormsRevenge

At the Tustin Airbase here in CA we still have the hangers used to house the original ones.

Move them here.


11 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:35 AM PDT by edcoil (I cannot fix stupid.)
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To: NormsRevenge
New UFO pictures to come!


12 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:42 AM PDT by Dallas59 (President Robert Gibbs 2009-2013)
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To: NormsRevenge

Great Godzilla Suppositories, ...now you’ve inflated it, how are you going to get it out?


13 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:44 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: NormsRevenge
"2,000 pounds"

Is this correct? It doesn't seem like much.

14 posted on 05/24/2010 10:53:46 AM PDT by 1776 Reborn
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To: edcoil

Why would anyone want to move any business to ‘Kalifornia’?


15 posted on 05/24/2010 10:55:15 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: edcoil

Why would anyone want to move any business to ‘Kalifornia’?


16 posted on 05/24/2010 10:55:15 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: Cvengr

I think this was a test inflation to check for structural issues in a controlled environment.


17 posted on 05/24/2010 10:55:36 AM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: NormsRevenge
and the ability to fuel with algae, protecting our environment


18 posted on 05/24/2010 10:55:39 AM PDT by houeto (Get drinking water from your ditch - http://www.junglebucket.com/Jungle-Bucket-1.htm)
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To: NormsRevenge
2. Stratosphere extends up to 131,000 above the Earth. The average temperature remains steady at -56ø C up to an altitude of 82,000 feet. Above this altitude, the temperature rises. Jet streams there move in a horizontal motion and at lower speeds, perhaps 100 miles per hour. A significant feature of the stratosphere is the ozone layer, which is located between 52,500 ft and 105,000 ft above the Earth. This layer protects the Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

If this craft has a top speed of 80mph, going west in the north hemisphere is going to be a chore. Some "bullet". Dollars to doughnuts, some environnmental whacko will complain about the sanctity of the ozone layer.

19 posted on 05/24/2010 10:56:07 AM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: NormsRevenge

The Graf Zepplin was over 800 ft long.

“Worlds Largest” at 235 feet is a bit of hyperbole.


20 posted on 05/24/2010 10:57:00 AM PDT by UNGN (I've been here since '98 but had nothing to say until now)
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