4 ms·
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
by 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 agoAirline 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 agoThe 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...