4 ms·

That's because human lives were cheaper back in those days. The problem with docking a giant people carrier above a densely populated area is that you have even

by nsonha 4y ago

That's because human lives were cheaper back in those days. The problem with docking a giant people carrier above a densely populated area is that you have even more lives at stake.

Retric 4y ago
We send airplanes over densely pack cities all the time. We even let the rather pointless Goodyear blimp do so. Docking an airship would be safer if the area beneath it was completely clear such as a river, but in normal wind conditions it isn’t particularly dangerous.
- ptero 4y ago
  Goodyear blimp only flies in relatively good weather. On airplanes over cities though: compare the cross-section and the corresponding force exerted by the wind on a modern jet and a blimp. Jet engines can compensate for wind gusts that would make landing an airship in a tight spot hopeless. A fun example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn3MBNt7Rc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn3MBNt7Rc
  - Retric 4y ago
    Airline landings really aren’t very precise which is why runways are so wide. In terms of wind, airships with the right control systems can be designed to hold position in 50+MPH guts. That takes a lot of power and rapid response, but modern airships can do 110kph and presumably commercial adoption would need higher speeds.
    - ptero 4y ago
      > In terms of wind, airships with the right control systems can be designed to hold position in 50+MPH gusts. That takes a lot of power and rapid response I am not sure: countering the change in direction seems very hard. But I do wish luck to those who are working to push this technology along. > modern airships can do 110kph That is how fast the Zeppelins of 100 years ago traveled: cruising speed of 76 mph.
      - Retric 4y ago
        The response speed is via reversible variable pitch propellers, which is a very cool technology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-pitch_propeller_(aeronautics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-pitch_propeller_(aero...
- nsonha 4y ago
  Any flying machine has some maneuverability when flying PASS a populated area, even in emergencies. If you just dock above the area at all time, it will increase the risk immensely.

by nsonha 4y ago

That's because human lives were cheaper back in those days. The problem with docking a giant people carrier above a densely populated area is that you have even more lives at stake.

Retric 4y ago

We send airplanes over densely pack cities all the time. We even let the rather pointless Goodyear blimp do so. Docking an airship would be safer if the area beneath it was completely clear such as a river, but in normal wind conditions it isn’t particularly dangerous.

ptero 4y ago
Goodyear blimp only flies in relatively good weather. On airplanes over cities though: compare the cross-section and the corresponding force exerted by the wind on a modern jet and a blimp. Jet engines can compensate for wind gusts that would make landing an airship in a tight spot hopeless. A fun example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn3MBNt7Rc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn3MBNt7Rc
- Retric 4y ago
  Airline landings really aren’t very precise which is why runways are so wide. In terms of wind, airships with the right control systems can be designed to hold position in 50+MPH guts. That takes a lot of power and rapid response, but modern airships can do 110kph and presumably commercial adoption would need higher speeds.
  - ptero 4y ago
    > In terms of wind, airships with the right control systems can be designed to hold position in 50+MPH gusts. That takes a lot of power and rapid response I am not sure: countering the change in direction seems very hard. But I do wish luck to those who are working to push this technology along. > modern airships can do 110kph That is how fast the Zeppelins of 100 years ago traveled: cruising speed of 76 mph.
    - Retric 4y ago
      The response speed is via reversible variable pitch propellers, which is a very cool technology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-pitch_propeller_(aeronautics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-pitch_propeller_(aero...
nsonha 4y ago
Any flying machine has some maneuverability when flying PASS a populated area, even in emergencies. If you just dock above the area at all time, it will increase the risk immensely.