Hybrid airship launched.

[techs]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/gr...ircraft-unveiled-and-hailed-game-changer.html

World's largest aircraft unveiled and hailed 'game changer'

The world's longest aircraft, consisting of part airship, part helicopter and part plane, has been unveiled and could be the key to greener more efficient planes in future as developers predict one day there could be as many of the hybrids as there are helicopters today

 

[DesiPower]

Impressive, can carry 200 tons and reach 100mph... not bad. But I guess these are good for cargo not passengers... people need much higher speeds these days, this will not go well as passenger crafts.

 

[Printer Bandit]

how does it stand up against RPGs?

 

[techs]

They should have designed it to look like a huge manatee.

 

[pontifex]

Excelsior!

 

[destrekor]

When our skies are filled with airships before they are filled with flying cars... imma be mad.

Airships are so cool though. Zeppelins!
They are extremely "green" though, and for so many things, these would be perfect.

Hell, they could technically replace so many semi trucks and railcars, and travel at faster speeds far more efficiently and still get the cargo delivered.

You know... I wonder if that's in our future. Airships filling the skies instead of asshole and bad-driver trucks filling our highways. :hmm:
I could get behind that.

 

[Gibsons]

Really neat stuff. Company in CA doing something similar, the Aeroscraft.

I have similar questions about both though. It's going to have trouble with wind and storms. Modern airliners can fly over storms, and headwinds aren't that big of a deal. I imagine a big storm would toss these things around quite a bit. They'll probably need some serious tethering or a very large hangar while on the ground.

Still, for long hauls, really heavy stuff to remote locations, they might be great. Like the mines in remote Canada, they can't get heavy stuff there in summer, these might fit the bill.

 

[Six]

"Game changer" + "filled with helium" = not for long.

 

[Jeeebus]

mehh... I've already been riding around on my black chocobo for a few years now, so the thought of an airship is not all that impressive.

 

[techs]

"Game changer" + "filled with helium" = not for long.

Are you talking about the impending helium shortage?

At 100 mph and 200 tons its really a question of is it cheaper than jet or truck? Also, at 100 mph is there cargo that benefits from the decreased time over trucks and can the cargo go slower than on a jet.

btw how much can a semi carry?

 

[Broheim]

"Game changer" + "filled with helium" = not for long.

yeah, some broad gets on there with a staticy sweater and Boom! It's "Oh the humanity!"

 

[techs]

yeah, some broad gets on there with a staticy sweater and Boom! It's "Oh the humanity!"

That's hydrogen filled airships. Helium doesn't burn

 

[Genx87]

I always wondered why airships didn't come back into their own for cargo. 200 tons at 100 mph could make trucking a thing of the past for longer hauls.

 

[sdifox]

I don't see it being economically viable. Maybe if you just carry high value cargos like tablets. I mean a standard boxcar can carry more than 100 ton.

 

[Broheim]

That's hydrogen filled airships. Helium doesn't burn

I don't get it.

 

[Sonikku]

Psh. That's nothing. We've had airships since the 17th century according to that Three Musketeers movie.

 

[Thebobo]

Interesting looking but its just a blimp.
Not sure what makes it a hybrid other then PR nonsense
The Hindenburg was bigger @ 776 feet Speed was 80 MPH

 

[Papagayo]

I'd bet a guy designed this.

Looks like cameltoe..

Wish they named it cameltoe....

 

[Phanuel]

That's hydrogen filled airships. Helium doesn't burn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxk0ZcFG8Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwh07fYNdCY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq-N3_plNq8

 

[deanx0r]

Really?

 

[Jaskalas]

So weather forecasts are going to be critical for these things...

 

[MrPickins]

"Game changer" + "filled with helium" = not for long.

This.

Helium is a non-renewable resource, and we're running through it like crazy.

 

[Gunbuster]

Impressive, can carry 200 tons and reach 100mph... not bad.

Reading comprehension! "He hopes this will mean they can eventually make crafts capable of carrying up to 200 tonnes."

"The latest hybrid, which cost about £30 million to make, will be used for communications but the company is set to start making an even larger version later this year which will be able to transport up to 50 tonnes of freight and passengers."

The pictured version apparently carry's no tons of cargo.

 

[techs]

I don't get it.

In the 1930's the US was the only source for helium and the US government wouldn't let it be sold outside the country since it was a strategically vital substance. So the Hindenburg and other airships of the time had to use dangerously flammable hydrogen.

If the Hindenburg was filled with helium it would not have caught fire.

 

[techs]

It would seem pushing a huge airship through the atmosphere would use a lot more fuel than a truck. I wonder what the numbers are.