[Wonder Warthog]

"It would seem that powering an aircraft is about the last thing on the list to do with LENR.

Not at all. This is precisely in the "thought mode" that DARPA, ARPA, and similar research organizations are chartered to pursue....very high risk but very high reward technology. I've seem some things a LOT "farther out" than LENR.

How about the following....a "hot air" LENR powered dirigible?? LENR generates electricity for prop drive, and the waste heat provides lift? WAY safer than H2 lift. Pretty much unlimited cruising time/range. Heavy-lift capability that needs no airports. Gigantically higher cargo capacity than any helicopter.

[Wonder Warthog]

“How about the following....a “hot air” LENR powered dirigible??”

THIS configuration:

http://www.21stcentech.com/transportation-update-new-hybrid-air-vehicle/

looks like a candidate platform. Delete the solar cells, replace the helium bags with “hot gas” ones, and scale to pretty much any size.

[B4Ranch]

Imagine having a drone that only needs to land to change the bearings and get a lube job!

[MHGinTN]

What makes you think such large dirigibles do not already fly missions for the military? ... albeit very large triangular shaped. Decades ago such craft were in planning as flight decks for helo squdads, although the lifting gasses were not heated with LENR technology.