Hybrid airship launched.

[JManInPhoenix]

Interesting. I have always heard that the old airships (pre-1940) were very cumbersome to control and there were quite a few crashes in bad weather. The US Navy lost several of their helium filled ones to storms. Wonder if these are any more maneuverable than the old ones?

 

[feralkid]

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.

However he said he cannot see the ships replacing railways used to transport freight, but instead said the hybrid machines would be suitable for transporting very heavy loads in hard to reach areas like Canada and Africa.

 

[techs]

Interesting. I have always heard that the old airships (pre-1940) were very cumbersome to control and there were quite a few crashes in bad weather. The US Navy lost several of their helium filled ones to storms. Wonder if these are any more maneuverable than the old ones?

Weather predictions and radar allow current airships to avoid dangerously bad weather.

 

[Brainonska511]

Captain: Rigid airships combine the pampering of a cruise ship With the speed of -
Arhcer: - some other slightly faster ship? Uh, hello. Airplanes? Yeah, it's blimps. You win. Bye.

 

[Broheim]

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.

Dammit, you were supposed to say something to the effect of "what don't you get".
I say "the core concept".
you say something like "what?"
I say "danger zone" and the archer theme starts playing.

you see, this... this is why we can't have nice things, techs...


you asshole *archer theme starts playing*

 

[mizzou]

Really?

Now that's something I can get behind.

 

[twinrider1]

Hello, this is Captain Mix-A-Lot. We'll be crusing at an altitude of 3000 feet. Thank you for flying HAV Airways

 

[slag]

This.

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

There's no shortage of it....

in the sun.

 

[Griffinhart]

I can only see fairly limited use for such a craft. The current version can carry 50 tons at 300ft length. They estimate that if they double the length they can see 200 tons of cargo. There aren't that many airfields that can handle 600 foot aircraft and still handle other traffic (Other than major airports) and remote locations would need to have access to very large, clear areas with decent facilities for loading and unloading.

Of course a C-5 today can carry more than the 50 tons of the current 300ft airship. And even at 200 tons it's nowhere near the capacity of ships that range between 20,000 and 400,000 tons of capacity or trains that pull 150,000 tons of freight.

50 tons is probably a bit more than a tractor trailer can match, but time saved by not having to load and unload the airship to go to the final destination, the Cost savings of support infrastructure and vehicle cost of Trucks vs airship make things lean towards trucks still being preferred.

The max speed of 100mph is kind of cool, though that wouldn't be anywhere the average speed. Especially in a headwind.

Airships never really caught on because they are slower than other aircraft, can't carry near the capacity of Trains or Ships, and aren't as flexible as trucks. For day to day shipping they aren't good. They could be useful for extremely remote locations, though given the size of these things, traditional aircraft or airdrops make more sense in most cases.

 

[moonbogg]

I guess a woodpecker could sink that ship? Cool.

 

[brainhulk]

Really?

I like big blimps and I cannot lie

 

[techs]

It seemed like a good idea until I read what people posted.
Now it seems to be not economically feasible.

 

[JEDIYoda]

how does it stand up against RPGs?

or even regular weapons fire....

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

 

[brainhulk]

Really?

If it can carry nukes, it would be a weapon of ass destruction

 

[CPA]

This.

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

Yeah, but why? It's not like we don't have it out there to collect. It's because of government pricing involvement and private industry not seeing a way to make money on it yet. Once again, government's good intentions have stifled the market.

 

[destrekor]

Yeah, but why? It's not like we don't have it out there to collect. It's because of government pricing involvement and private industry not seeing a way to make money on it yet. Once again, government's good intentions have stifled the market.

But that was early. It's been nearly two decades (1996) since the government mandated that it would get itself out of the helium storage and supply business. It's been unable to get private industry to heed the call and bring new businesses online.
There are supposed to be a few coming online during the next few years, and thankfully they recently passed legislation extending the deadline beyond that original 2015 date so that the federal reserve remains operational.

 

[techs]

iirc the government ran the helium supply system for many years. They kept the price stable so companies could count on availability and price. Then the deregulators got involved. Turns out private industry doesn't want to get involved unless the price goes way up. The government spent a relative pittance in cost to run their system, less than 10 million over the last ten years. Sadly private industry wants double the price for helium AND a monopoly so only 1 or 2 companies can get into the business.

It's partial deregulation like California did to electricity a few years back that turned out to be disaster when companies like Enron manipulated supply to drastically push up prices

 

[Exterous]

There's no shortage of it....

in the sun.

And to think we were going to cut back on defense spending. People - we have to invade the Sun and we can't do it if we cut back on the Army!

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

Good! Its time to get rid of anything with the name Dirigible. :sneaky:

 

[techs]

One thing I don't understand is that iirc helium is a byproduct of natural gas extraction. Why haven't other countries gotten into the biz? Does the US sell it so cheap its not economical?

 

[Imp]

I'd fly in it... Too bad it's just for cargo. While current air travel is statistically safest, I don't like the tough love of crashing 300 mph into the ground when shit hits the fan.

 

[Fayd]

Really?

"theater in the round"

 

[alkemyst]

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?

The legal limit for semi's in most areas is 40 tons, this includes the weight of the truck and trailer which usually are about 15 to 16 tons by themselves.

You then have certain road/bridge limits to deal with.

Also with special permits I think the technical limit is about 80 tons. These trucks usually are on very limited routes for certain industries (steel/coal).

200 tons is a lot.

 

[destrekor]

One thing I don't understand is that iirc helium is a byproduct of natural gas extraction. Why haven't other countries gotten into the biz? Does the US sell it so cheap its not economical?

Some regions have a higher helium component in the gas compared to others. That's why the U.S. is essentially the main supplier - Texas has the highest percentage of helium in the gas fields. Just the way the geography/ecology worked out in this case.

 

[Genx87]

The legal limit for semi's in most areas is 40 tons, this includes the weight of the truck and trailer which usually are about 15 to 16 tons by themselves.

You then have certain road/bridge limits to deal with.

Also with special permits I think the technical limit is about 80 tons. These trucks usually are on very limited routes for certain industries (steel/coal).

200 tons is a lot.

That is my thought. A tractor trailer really only carries what,20 tons at most? I believe we have a 40 ton limit in the United States for tractor,trailer, and cargo.

But it all depends the cost of this vehicle, its maintenance costs, and crew costs if it comes out. I envision a company like FedEX or UPS using this to replace trucks for longer haul shipping. One ship that can carrier the equivalent of 10 trucks on longer hauls and get there faster.