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Katashi_itto

(10,175 posts)
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 08:52 AM Feb 2014

Thunderbird 2 is go! Gigantic amphibious airship which could revolutionise air travel as we know it

Zeppelins were once considered the future of air transport - but after the horror of the Hindenburg disaster, they disappeared from the skies for more than 75 years.
Now a pioneering aviation firm hopes to bring back the airships in a bid to revolutionise the global market in transporting freight.
The Aeroscraft is built using innovative technology which allows it to control its flight better than previous airships, so it should avoid the problems experienced by the first generation of zeppelins.




It requires only a third as much fuel as an aeroplane carrying cargo, and it can take off and land anywhere even without a formal airstrip - including on water - making it well suited to war zones and disaster areas.
The aircraft has been designed thanks to a $3million grant from the U.S. government, and it will soon be ready for its first test flight, according to Business Insider.
The Aeroscraft is designed by Worldwide Aeros Corp., who predict that it will change the way that goods are moved around the world by providing a mode of transport which is cheaper than planes but faster than ships.
The key technological breakthrough came when the firm's founder Igor Pasternak came up with a way to compress helium, which allows the airship to control its weight.


Thunderbirds Are Go!!!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2416809/Return-zeppelin-Firm-unveils-gigantic-airship-revolutionise-goods-carried-world.html#ixzz2uKzbIjkq
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Thunderbird 2 is go! Gigantic amphibious airship which could revolutionise air travel as we know it (Original Post) Katashi_itto Feb 2014 OP
Cool... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #1
That is very cool. But, until they put in the seats that take you from your office CBGLuthier Feb 2014 #2
Agree! Katashi_itto Feb 2014 #3
+1 Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #6
they'd be good not only for things too wide or indivisible for cargo planes, but also for dropping MisterP Feb 2014 #4
looks like they need to shrink-wrap the front of that thing a little better snooper2 Feb 2014 #5
Returning to LTA technology is long overdue... Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #7

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
2. That is very cool. But, until they put in the seats that take you from your office
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 08:56 AM
Feb 2014

to the cockpit without taking a step, it will still be lacking.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)
4. they'd be good not only for things too wide or indivisible for cargo planes, but also for dropping
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 03:34 PM
Feb 2014

wide objects assembled elsewhere

Wounded Bear

(58,649 posts)
7. Returning to LTA technology is long overdue...
Tue Feb 25, 2014, 03:40 PM
Feb 2014

I'm assuming the big Aerospace Co's blocked funding for this. Nice to see some movement here. It's not like hydrogen is the only way to suspend LTA aircraft.

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