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I'd be more concerned with how they perform in high winds. Unlike conventional aircraft that use massive propulsion to cut through the air as quickly as possibl

I'd be more concerned with how they perform in high winds. Unlike conventional aircraft that use massive propulsion to cut through the air as quickly as possible, these vehicles are designed to just hang out in the air.

billswift 15y ago
From what I read about airships' use in the 1920s, high winds aren't a serious problem, but unexpected storms can be, because they can't maneuver out of the storm's path as well as a heavier-than-air craft. Most of the US Navy's airships were lost to relatively small, local storms if I am remembering correctly. Which would be a plus for high latitude use, since their are fewer storms there.
- deleted 15y ago
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- tsotha 15y ago
  The US airships were overly susceptible to bad weather because they were based on a wartime German design in which airworthiness had been sacrificed for altitude. From here: http://sped2work.tripod.com/zeppelins.html http://sped2work.tripod.com/zeppelins.html "Unknown to the French and American engineers at the time the height climbers were made from thinner gauge material and, except for the machine guns, stripped of armaments and even one engine. They did not realize they were being specially built in response to mounting losses and were super risky to fly, being very much on the edge of sound structural rigidity. The Americans copied the L-49 almost exactly not knowing how close the Germans had pushed the boundaries of minimal structures and a major reason she, the Shenandoah, broke up in bad weather."
lukev 15y ago
It says they can fly at up to 115mph so adjusting course to compensate for leeway, I imagine they could handle some pretty stiff winds even if it cost them speed. Probably safer in a storm than a heavier-than-air craft, since the wind won't be able to knock them over and stall them, or steal their lift. Worst you'd have to worry about would be the passengers getting seasick, as long as you can maintain altitude.

billswift 15y ago

From what I read about airships' use in the 1920s, high winds aren't a serious problem, but unexpected storms can be, because they can't maneuver out of the storm's path as well as a heavier-than-air craft. Most of the US Navy's airships were lost to relatively small, local storms if I am remembering correctly. Which would be a plus for high latitude use, since their are fewer storms there.

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
tsotha 15y ago
The US airships were overly susceptible to bad weather because they were based on a wartime German design in which airworthiness had been sacrificed for altitude. From here: http://sped2work.tripod.com/zeppelins.html http://sped2work.tripod.com/zeppelins.html "Unknown to the French and American engineers at the time the height climbers were made from thinner gauge material and, except for the machine guns, stripped of armaments and even one engine. They did not realize they were being specially built in response to mounting losses and were super risky to fly, being very much on the edge of sound structural rigidity. The Americans copied the L-49 almost exactly not knowing how close the Germans had pushed the boundaries of minimal structures and a major reason she, the Shenandoah, broke up in bad weather."

lukev 15y ago

It says they can fly at up to 115mph so adjusting course to compensate for leeway, I imagine they could handle some pretty stiff winds even if it cost them speed. Probably safer in a storm than a heavier-than-air craft, since the wind won't be able to knock them over and stall them, or steal their lift. Worst you'd have to worry about would be the passengers getting seasick, as long as you can maintain altitude.