Dirigibles making a comeback?

[draconis]

Possibly, according to the folks at EcoGeek.

You know, if they could find a way to make them self-sustaining (find a way to make solar cells lightweight enough to cover the skin of the craft, perhaps?), or at least easily-sustaining (i.e. an engine that runs on hydrogen gained from splitting apart water molecules), and good enough Internet coverage while in transit (probably from LEO -- low-earth orbit -- satellites)... then I could really go for something like one of those Aeroscraft models! ::G::

I do wish they had larger versions of the pictures, though.

Comments

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

Okay, I hadn't realized that the Aeroscraft (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/whatsnew/18ac893302839010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html) were quite so big -- the passenger/cargo section is a ONE-ACRE cabin!

So... maybe a slightly smaller version of that... ::G:: although I don't know... 5300 sq ft / 500 sq m... that's the size of a *large* house / McMansion. You could use that for a living space quite nicely, and if you got mad at the neighbors? Just launch!

OMG, it's the ultimate mobile home! ROFL!

[saxononyx.livejournal.com]

these will alwasy have several issues vs traditional airplanes. the biggest being speed. As the article talked about their best uses are gonna be tourism, and long distance freight hauling especially over land were large cargo ships wont compete for the same shipping dollar. add in there lack of ability to take off or land easily in rough weather.

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

Agreed...

But if I could find a way to make one self-sustaining (an on-board hydroponic garden, and water purification/reclamation facilities, for example, in addition to the fuel issues I already mentioned), I'd go for one in a heartbeat! ::G::

I wonder what kind of license you have to have to pilot one of those things?