New Zeppelin Test Video

[ChromaticTheory]

One of the new Zeppelin class dirigibles has been test flown! Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKJMxxgd9UI

From what I understand these bad boys should actually be taking to the skies by 2010!

[PT Sideshow]

Looks like it would be unstable to fly and hard to control. From the video they looked like they were having  a problem with the side to side winds. The other thing with four large ducted fans to provide lift and the gimbaled engines, the fuel load, it does appear that they wouldn't have much payload carrying capacity.
Also it looks to be a variation on a Russian version wedge style from a number of years ago.

The solar-powered, high altitude airship will also carry a payload of 4,000 pounds.

Then another states 2 to four tons. The bottom line is cost for general use. Meaning the ground crews hangers ect. Plus the blimp can't be used in winds of 10/15 Klicks/hour flying.
The more interesting thing is if it truly is solar powered now. They have made great strides in the collectors/cells and if the cost is not out of sight. solar powered cars and other things should be coming soon.
Besides the final question is do you want every news org to have a blimp with video/audio surveillance parked over your neighborhood.
It looks more like blade runner all the time, jumbo tron moving billboards, flex wrap video screens, and stationary surveillance platforms.
can the phrase,Papers please be far behind.
 

[Quebrith]

Well, the ability to have a portable airborne antenna brings up the possibility of "homegrown" pirate radio or TV stations.

Hmmm. "Sky Pirate Radio." You heard it here first.

[PT Sideshow]

Well, the ability to have a portable airborne antenna brings up the possibility of "homegrown" pirate radio or TV stations.

Hmmm. "Sky Pirate Radio." You heard it here first.

The only problem they would still have to be outside the limit of sovereignty.
With somebody not liking what you are broad casting. Home made Estes type model rockets, and high powered fire ams. You might as well paint a bullseye on the bag ROTFLMAS. Let alone our governments dim view of such things.
I can see a form of aircraft with two carbon fiber swallow tails behind connected with a thin high strength cable between them and the plane swooping in to snag so to speak the offending platform.
 

[Great Bizarro]

Looked like the StayPuff Marshmallow Man off of Ghost Busters.

[Govenor Stanley Cobb]

I was lead to believe that the payloads for the US military versions were similar to the C-5 Galaxy and despite being much slower the reduced fuel costs made them viable transport craft.

[PT Sideshow]

I was lead to believe that the payloads for the US military versions were similar to the C-5 Galaxy and despite being much slower the reduced fuel costs made them viable transport craft.

In their wildest, dreams. "Shot for the moon and hit the copper on the corner"
can't remember if it was a British TV show or a novel. it still is a good one

[chicar]

It was just me or this look like a giant headless winged pig ?

[Professor Lidenbrock]

It was just me or this look like a giant headless winged pig ?

That thought had occurred to me as well.

[Sebastian Gaunt]

Of course it looks a bit shakey and unstable, its a TEST flight. Thats where you find out why its a bit shakey and then fix it.

[Gentlemens Handbook]

From what I understand these bad boys should actually be taking to the skies by 2010!

damn. we only get two years of zeppelins before the mayan calendar ends and the apocalypse begins.


I was reading an article (i'll try to find it) about the idea of a skycruise.

Like a cruise ship, but zeppelin based. Imagine a cruise that is not limited to the ocean. Or watching the sunset across the tops of clouds from the outdoor deck of a airship. It would be fantastic.

[PT Sideshow]

Really a neat idea as long as the holding tanks don't leak. "The was a reason the train lavs had the sign in them. "Please do not flush while in the station!"
 

From what I understand these bad boys should actually be taking to the skies by 2010!

I was reading an article (i'll try to find it) about the idea of a skycruise.

Like a cruise ship, but zeppelin based. Imagine a cruise that is not limited to the ocean. Or watching the sunset across the tops of clouds from the outdoor deck of a airship. It would be fantastic.

leak.

[Esq.]

i want to live in it.