Posted on 10/13/2019 9:05:20 AM PDT by Libloather
Zeppelins, the rigid airships most famously epitomized by the Hindenburg, now seem kind of retro, rather than the image of futurity they represented in the 1930s. But they could be about to make a comeback in a big way — courtesy of a new aluminum-shelled, solar-powered airship that’s being built by the U.K.-based company Varialift Airships.
According to the company’s CEO Alan Handley, the airship will be capable of making a transatlantic flight from the United Kingdom to the United States, consuming just 8% of the fuel of a regular airplane. It will be powered by a pair of solar-powered engines and two conventional jet engines.
While its lack of onboard battery would limit travel to daylight hours, and its speed will only be approximately half that of a Boeing 747, the Varialift airship does promise to be a useful cargo carrier. Its creators claim that it will be able to carry loads ranging from 50 to 250 tons. Larger models with payloads up to 3,000 tons aren’t out of the question either. Bulky cargo such as electricity pylons, wind turbine blades, and towers, or even prefabricated structures such as oil rigs could be carried underneath using cables. That means that cargo will have a weight limit, but no practical size limit.
(Excerpt) Read more at digitaltrends.com ...
Why Is There A Helium Shortage?
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/4137055-why-is-there-a-helium-shortage/
Damn, I was hoping this was about Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.
So, we want to go back to fair wx transportation only , eh?
Next thing, we’ll want to go back to all wind power.
No, wait......
Can it fly faster than a hurricane?
I don’t believe this. “Could” is the definitive word in the title. Wake me when it happens and they have blown all the money.
A Boeing 747's top speed is listed at 614 mph. They're going to make a dirigible that goes 300? On solar power? I'm gonna take the "under" on that bet.
> Can it fly faster than a hurricane? <
No. But once in the hurricane, it will be flying as fast as the hurricane.
I released a Zeppelin into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where.
Meh, Futurama predicted this years ago.
“A Boeing 747’s top speed is listed at 614 mph. They’re going to make a dirigible that goes 300? On solar power? I’m gonna take the “under” on that bet.”
It has two jet engines according to the photo in the article.
> It has two jet engines according to the photo in the article. <
Yep. The solar panels are just there to attract government subsidies and grants.
Oh, the humanity!
Me too!
Make it non-combustible and somewhat comfortable and I would love to take a trip on one even if it is slower.
Their Time is Gonna Come!
“> It has two jet engines according to the photo in the article. <”
Their turbines could be driven by elecric motors. But the picture shows a jet engine long enough ... oh well, it’s just an artist’s rendering.
It eeees balloon!
Something that The Thunderbirds would have.
“CEO Alan Handley”
As in Handley-Page?
The dirigible size just offsets the weight of the Solar Batteries.
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