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Watched the video, don't think they mentioned it... any idea how fast it is? They said it can fly for up to 5 days, but without knowing cruising speed it's hard

by tyw 13y ago

Watched the video, don't think they mentioned it... any idea how fast it is? They said it can fly for up to 5 days, but without knowing cruising speed it's hard to say how useful it could be for moving people and cargo around when there's other options.

dredmorbius 13y ago
Airships typically range from around 60 - 130 mph airspeed, with the latter being attained by some newer and very aerodynamic models. Looks as if the Airlander's good for about 100 mph from this: http://www.infotales.com/airlander-the-largest-airship-in-the-world-launches-for-the-first-time http://www.infotales.com/airlander-the-largest-airship-in-th...
- Pxtl 13y ago
  So best-case scenario it can go 2400 miles, assuming it can refuel on arrival. While it could hop and be managed at any local field with a fuel dump, I do wonder how well it can handle the elements if kept outside at a stretch. Crossing the Atlantic would be tricky, for example. So while "disaster relief" is a good use for this thing, rapid response is not. It's in for the long haul - you set up in a neighboring city and use it to ferry goods back and forth. But by the time it arrives, the existing disaster-relief structure may have more conventional approaches to shipping in goods/personnel (rail/train/ships/runways) ... this thing really seems to be a solution looking for a problem. If the technology could be made cheap, I could see the worth of a low fuel-to-weight ratio for air-freight in servicing remote areas (places above the arctic circle come to mind) but that's a mass-produced fleet of flying trucks, not a lone relief ship.
  - dredmorbius 13y ago
    I see the major advantage in being shuttling between a field (or port) in which conventional transport can be utilized, and a specific disaster locale in where you cannot land a 747, C130, or dock a PANAMAX ship. Utilize those for the long-haul, then use the airship to shuttle between your full-service port and the specific locations which are cut off. When you're talking about the difference between getting supplies to a region that's cut off from the rest of the world, even a 10km or 100km haul can be hugely useful, and the airship can cover that distance in 6 - 60 minutes.

by tyw 13y ago

dredmorbius 13y ago

Airships typically range from around 60 - 130 mph airspeed, with the latter being attained by some newer and very aerodynamic models. Looks as if the Airlander's good for about 100 mph from this: http://www.infotales.com/airlander-the-largest-airship-in-the-world-launches-for-the-first-time http://www.infotales.com/airlander-the-largest-airship-in-th...

Pxtl 13y ago
So best-case scenario it can go 2400 miles, assuming it can refuel on arrival. While it could hop and be managed at any local field with a fuel dump, I do wonder how well it can handle the elements if kept outside at a stretch. Crossing the Atlantic would be tricky, for example. So while "disaster relief" is a good use for this thing, rapid response is not. It's in for the long haul - you set up in a neighboring city and use it to ferry goods back and forth. But by the time it arrives, the existing disaster-relief structure may have more conventional approaches to shipping in goods/personnel (rail/train/ships/runways) ... this thing really seems to be a solution looking for a problem. If the technology could be made cheap, I could see the worth of a low fuel-to-weight ratio for air-freight in servicing remote areas (places above the arctic circle come to mind) but that's a mass-produced fleet of flying trucks, not a lone relief ship.
- dredmorbius 13y ago
  I see the major advantage in being shuttling between a field (or port) in which conventional transport can be utilized, and a specific disaster locale in where you cannot land a 747, C130, or dock a PANAMAX ship. Utilize those for the long-haul, then use the airship to shuttle between your full-service port and the specific locations which are cut off. When you're talking about the difference between getting supplies to a region that's cut off from the rest of the world, even a 10km or 100km haul can be hugely useful, and the airship can cover that distance in 6 - 60 minutes.