Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sl8

(13,541 posts)
Sun Oct 13, 2019, 08:42 AM Oct 2019

Zeppelins could make a comeback with this solar-powered airship cargo mover

From https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/varialift-airships-solar-powered-airship/

Zeppelins could make a comeback with this solar-powered airship cargo mover

By Luke Dormehl
October 8, 2019 10:18AM PST


Varialift Airships

Zeppelins, the rigid airships most famously epitomized by the Hindenburg, now seem kind of retro, rather than the image of futurity they represented in the 1930s. But they could be about to make a comeback in a big way — courtesy of a new aluminum-shelled, solar-powered airship that’s being built by the U.K.-based company Varialift Airships.

According to the company’s CEO Alan Handley, the airship will be capable of making a transatlantic flight from the United Kingdom to the United States, consuming just 8% of the fuel of a regular airplane. It will be powered by a pair of solar-powered engines and two conventional jet engines.

While its lack of onboard battery would limit travel to daylight hours, and its speed will only be approximately half that of a Boeing 747, the Varialift airship does promise to be a useful cargo carrier. Its creators claim that it will be able to carry loads ranging from 50 to 250 tons. Larger models with payloads up to 3,000 tons aren’t out of the question either. Bulky cargo such as electricity pylons, wind turbine blades, and towers, or even prefabricated structures such as oil rigs could be carried underneath using cables. That means that cargo will have a weight limit, but no practical size limit.

Because it is an airship, which lifts off more like a balloon than an airplane, the Varialift airship could also be useful in this capacity since it doesn’t require a dedicated runway. This could make it valuable as a delivery vehicle in places with poor infrastructure.

[...]

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Zeppelins could make a comeback with this solar-powered airship cargo mover (Original Post) sl8 Oct 2019 OP
Is there a link? 2naSalit Oct 2019 #1
Added. n/t sl8 Oct 2019 #2
Thanks! 2naSalit Oct 2019 #3
Can't imagine it would be 2naSalit Oct 2019 #4
2 jet engines, can only travel during the day? ha ha Baclava Oct 2019 #5
No thanks. dawg Oct 2019 #6

2naSalit

(85,638 posts)
1. Is there a link?
Sun Oct 13, 2019, 08:46 AM
Oct 2019

I had a dream either last night or night before about zeppelins and in that dream I saw what a 21st century zeppelin would look like. I want to see if they match up.

2naSalit

(85,638 posts)
4. Can't imagine it would be
Sun Oct 13, 2019, 08:57 AM
Oct 2019

a good thing in a big storm which we are likely to see more of in the future than not.

It looks a little like the ones in my dream.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Zeppelins could make a co...