Forum: Technology

There have been various concepts proposed over the years for developing Very Large, extreme-lift-capable Airships tasked for multiple roles. I've been a long-time supporter of this concept and need.

The more obvious military related and commercial transport roles conceived might or might not ever be deemed technologically/operationally feasible or cost-effective to a point that such an industry can materialize.

But to use the great disaster in Japan and Pacific just suffered as an example, I cannot stress my long standing support enough, for a 500-1,000+ ton capable class airship expressly for Global Emergency and Disaster Response and Relief missions.

Wherever such future disasters hit... such a fleet of internationally procured and operated Airships would be a major asset and not to be under-exaggerated capability to mobilize relief and rescue whole populations from wide areas, virtually anywhere on the globe.

This proposal linked below as an example (only a 200-ton baby), has been on the internet for at least a decade.

http://www.worldskycat.com/markets/skylift.html

If we humans can spend and dedicate $10s of Billions towards worthy scientific pursuits such as ISS and future joint-missions to Mars, etc, we can certainly coordinate and allocate resources and strategic, imperative interest as a planet to pursue this. imho. Any thoughts?

God speed.

F-16.net Sponsor

3-4 remotely piloted 500-ton lift ASI (AirShip - International) flown in from say Australia, India and Mexico, Turkey would be on their 10th or 11th 400-ton sea-water airdrops on the demolished reactors by now. Another 3-4 1,000-ton lift ASI ships from say Russia, Europe, China and US could be on multiple sorties... ferrying in water, medicines, tents from regional supplies.

God speed technology decision makers. God speed Japan.

The other functions that they are advertizing seem quite interesting, if they have really gotten the price down that low.

The problem with airships is (as always) weather. Anything that light with that much surface area is at the mercy of the wind. There's still possibly use for models that stay at high altitude (above the weather) for surveillance, but depending on the things for timely delivery of personnel or cargo remains impractical.

These modern ones seem to be optimized toward endurance and low fuel consumption, staying airborne for weeks at a time at high altitude. They advertize it as a "fast cargo ship" as apposed to a "cheep cargo plane". The weather probably just affects the timing of their take off and landing.

Forum: Technology

needed: Strategic Heavy-Lift Disaster Response Airship