Originally said by one of Liz Warren’s ancestors.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GVA115I1I8Y/TR9jxWEO6cI/AAAAAAAABQ4/xxQ_dcr2VAQ/s400/ChiefWildEagle.jpg")
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 ...
Originally said by one of Liz Warren’s ancestors.
It will be a Celebration Day.
It does look a little like a stairway to heaven, doesn’t it?
I’ve heard the same thing at least 10 times since 1960. Wake me when they’re flying.
Ya, then the Squad could use them to shuttle back home.....
I was hoping LedZep was releasing some new music. Darn that Plant....
Yes Tatoo....bringing us supplies and new guests to Fantasy Island!
"In Through The Out Door."
It was not received well but it's my favorite Zep album. In fact, scratch one bad track "Hot Dog" and it's pretty much perfect from start to finish.
The US Navy had four helium-filled dirigibles.
Three out of the four were destroyed by wind shear acting on that huge, lightweight structure.
As Chief Engineer Scott used to say, "You canna' change the laws of physics" and any new airship of that size would be just as vulnerable.
been hearing of the return fo airships since the 60’s. aside from the Goodyear blimp (I know there’s a diff), I don’t see any
There is not much sunshine in the UK. lol
Bezos wants floating warehouses in the sky for Anazon.
This is a great idea — and long overdue. There is no good reason not to use cheap, plentiful hydrogen as the lifting gas for a freighter. The Hindenburg burned because it was coated in rocket fuel (hydrogen flames are invisible).
John McPhee, “The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed” (This approach was tried (in a somewhat different form) decades ago, with loads of technical problems - of course we’ve got more advanced technology today, so who knows).
Linear movement of a hurricane is quite slow. A zeppelin is plenty fast enough to out-fly or circle around.
I hope they name the first one The John Bonham.
Those boys do not know much about aerodynamics. This is total Bull S--t!
People used to travel in luxury in Zeppelins. Those of us that would like a LOT more room than an airplane provides (without paying an arm and a leg) might be a good market.
And solar panels can be a good supplemental source of power...especially at altitude.
Check these pictures out: https://www.businessinsider.com/hindenburg-airship-color-photos-show-1930s-luxury-air-travel-2016-2
Solar powered jet engines?
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