No Eddie?
Posted on 04/18/2014 6:49:10 AM PDT by canuck_conservative
....“The technological problems with airships that have stopped them ruling the skies have been gradually ticked off,” says Mr. Durham, technical director of Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), which makes the Airlander.” Advances in materials, avionics and aerodynamic design mean that we have overcome the lion’s share of these obstacles. This craft is part airship, part aircraft and part hovercraft. We have taken the best aspects of each machine and combined them in one hyper-efficient vehicle. Let me tell you, this isn’t the Hindenburg.”...
A future design called Airlander 50 will lift 50 tons of cargo, five times more than a Chinook helicopter, but costing less. And while a typical military helicopter needs two days of maintenance out of every seven, the Airlander requires one day a month. The new airship is also friendly to the environment, doing the same job as a conventional aircraft on a quarter of the fuel....
The Americans pumped pounds 60 million into the business after the airship was selected as a surveillance platform, intended to loiter for weeks at a time over Afghanistan, providing constant coverage of the battlefield.
The Airlander first flew in 2012 in America, but trials ceased when the programme fell victim to the sequestration crisis on Capitol Hill and was cancelled....
The Airlander’s hull is made from super-strong fibres developed for the sails of America’s Cup yachts. A four-inch-wide strip can support a family car. “Materials technology had to come of age before you could make this kind of aircraft,” says Mr. Durham. “Vectran, which is one of the materials we use, is similar to Kevlar.”....
“In the extremely unlikely event it lost all its engines, the effect would be rather less dramatic than on a Boeing 747 — it would simply glide down to earth.”....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...
No Eddie?
Up the Irons.
A case of giant blue balls
He’s a real trooper.
Aces High.
Fly, on your way
Like an eagle
Fly as high as the sun...
Johnson: [notices Dr. Evil’s spaceship on radar] Colonel, you better take a look at this radar.
Colonel: What is it, son?
Johnson: I don’t know, sir, but it looks like a giant—
[cut to the sky in two jets]
Jet Pilot: Dick!
Dick: Yeah?
Pilot: Take a look outta starboard.
Dick: Oh, my God! It looks like a huge—
[cut to a forest with 2 birdwatchers]
Bird-Watching Woman: Pecker!
Bird-Watching Man: [raises his binoculars] Oh, where?
Bird-Watching Woman: Wait! that’s not a woodpecker. It looks like someone’s—
[cut to a boot camp]
Army Sergeant: PRIVATES! We have reports of an unidentified flying object! It is a long, smooth shaft, complete with—
[cut to a baseball game]
Umpire: 2 balls! [looks up from game] What is that? That looks just like an enormous—
[cut to a Chinese school]
Teacher: Wang! Pay attention!
Wang: I was distracted by that enormous flying—
[cut to a concert with Willie Nelson and another guitarist]
Musician: Willie.
Willie: Yeah?
Musician: What’s that?
Willie: [looks up] Well, it looks like a giant—
[cut back to headquarters]
Colonel: Johnson!
Johnson: Yes, sir!
Colonel: Get on the horn to British Intelligence and let them know about this!
I knew somebody would make a comment about that pic. Spinal Tap anyone?
One of the pictures at the site looks like Moochelle Obama’s butt.....
Bruce Dickinson was Iron Maiden’s frontman; he’s a fencing master, a military historian and a licensed pilot. He’s also an avid soccer player.
Is there anything this guy doesn’t do?
Yeah!!!! That pic at post#6....*LOL*
I predict a future episode of BBC’s “Top Gear” with ‘Captain Slow’, James May, at the controls. After all, he already has the experience (blimp) and a GA (private aviation) License!
Correct, except Bruce still *is* Iron Maiden’s frontman (he rejoined the band in 1999).
"Easy, guys.. I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records."
One has to give credit to Mr Dickensen. Smart enough to use Kipling for a source of lyrics, skilled pilot qualified on 747’s and 320’s. Puts on an incredible show, very well read individual. And he put half a million into this project.
Did you see the text above post #6 pic? Great minds....
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