7 ms·

This shows up every few years in credulous magazines like Popular Mechanics and Wired. It is literally vaporware.

by ahi 14y ago

machrider 14y ago
I was surprised to see the article mention that they'll be going for flight testing later this year, given that the only picture accompanying the article is a rendering. However, if you go to their site, they have photos and videos[1] of working airships. The cabin is tiny though, with room for only the operators (these may be the cargo ships mentioned in the article, rather than passenger vehicles). [1]: http://www.aeroscraft.com/#/video/4565658106 http://www.aeroscraft.com/#/video/4565658106
- anonymouz 14y ago
  There is also a video accompanying the article which shows a BBC reporter interviewing an engineer at the hangar. In the video one can clearly see that at least some rather large airship is well under construction (it's 90m x 27m x 30m, l x w x h). It's frame seems to be finished, and parts of the hull are installed too.
cdash 14y ago
I am not sure if the aircraft in the article is actually light than air or if it is a hybrid but I can assure you that hybrid airships are in no way shape or form vaporware. The US Military is currently developing multiple models and her is a recent video of one that can stay in the air for 21 days with a 1 ton surveillance package. Note the difference between these and normal airships though, they are not 100% buoyant in air and require active thrust in order to fly with a somewhat aerodynamic body. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G-L7qvTKI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G-L7qvTKI
whalesalad 14y ago
Northrop Grumman is building one for the Army, called the LEMV. It had its first flight recently. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/army-spy-blimp/ http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/army-spy-blimp/
raleec 14y ago
Is this a pun?
arrrg 14y ago
Yeah, reminds me of CargoLifter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter Though maybe it will work out this time, who know. It’s not like this is some sort of earth shattering innovation, so whether it works or not seems pretty unimportant to me.

This shows up every few years in credulous magazines like Popular Mechanics and Wired. It is literally vaporware.

by ahi 14y ago

This shows up every few years in credulous magazines like Popular Mechanics and Wired. It is literally vaporware.

I was surprised to see the article mention that they'll be going for flight testing later this year, given that the only picture accompanying the article is a rendering. However, if you go to their site, they have photos and videos[1] of working airships. The cabin is tiny though, with room for only the operators (these may be the cargo ships mentioned in the article, rather than passenger vehicles). [1]: http://www.aeroscraft.com/#/video/4565658106 http://www.aeroscraft.com/#/video/4565658106

anonymouz 14y ago
There is also a video accompanying the article which shows a BBC reporter interviewing an engineer at the hangar. In the video one can clearly see that at least some rather large airship is well under construction (it's 90m x 27m x 30m, l x w x h). It's frame seems to be finished, and parts of the hull are installed too.

cdash 14y ago

I am not sure if the aircraft in the article is actually light than air or if it is a hybrid but I can assure you that hybrid airships are in no way shape or form vaporware. The US Military is currently developing multiple models and her is a recent video of one that can stay in the air for 21 days with a 1 ton surveillance package. Note the difference between these and normal airships though, they are not 100% buoyant in air and require active thrust in order to fly with a somewhat aerodynamic body. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G-L7qvTKI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1G-L7qvTKI

whalesalad 14y ago

Northrop Grumman is building one for the Army, called the LEMV. It had its first flight recently. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/army-spy-blimp/ http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/army-spy-blimp/

raleec 14y ago

Is this a pun?

arrrg 14y ago

Yeah, reminds me of CargoLifter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoLifter Though maybe it will work out this time, who know. It’s not like this is some sort of earth shattering innovation, so whether it works or not seems pretty unimportant to me.