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Thread: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    So they're not the fastest contraptions in the skies - in 2010, don't we have the technology to make a vessel to carry us across the Atlantic which is both faster, more spacious, and higher capacity than a 1920's Graf Zeppelin - and also greener and more comfortable than a 767?

    Speed isn't everything. I'm sick of cramped flights and jet lag. Can't we do better?

    (Note: Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik's Zepplin NT is hardly a solution, with a capacity of 14 people and 500 mile range)

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    Jay
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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    maybe becuase airships are not viable?
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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    The Hindenburg was bad for marketing...

    ..but there have been many worse plane crashes, many due to inherent flaws (the comet), and we still use planes...
    and we didn't stop building ships after the titantic either
    Last edited by mikerr; 20-05-2010 at 12:50 PM.
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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?


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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by mikerr View Post
    The Hindenburg was bad for marketing...
    Anything can be fixed with branding. They still make thalidomide & analogs.

    And the Hindenburg was a bit, well, crap. Don't make a vessel, coat it in thermite, and fill it with flammable gas.

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz View Post

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    <Snip>

    Speed isn't everything. I'm sick of cramped flights and jet lag. Can't we do better?

    <Snip>
    Travel via ship then

    Ive done Oz to the UK (in 1978 mind) and it was the best way to travel took 5 weeks and was IMHO the best way for a 7 year old to see the world. Then we did Oz to Singapore in 1984 and paned it the rest of the way. Unfortunately there are very few actual liners left and most of them are al relegated to cruising now as that's where the money is.

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by MaddAussie View Post
    Travel via ship then

    Ive done Oz to the UK (in 1978 mind) and it was the best way to travel took 5 weeks and was IMHO the best way for a 7 year old to see the world. Then we did Oz to Singapore in 1984 and paned it the rest of the way. Unfortunately there are very few actual liners left and most of them are al relegated to cruising now as that's where the money is.
    I take the ferry when crossing the channel, but for longer, it's all cruises these days

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jay View Post
    maybe becuase airships are not viable?
    This.

    There's all sorts of reasons they're not really practical for general use. They need massive hangers, they're quite hard to dock (compared to a normal plane) since they're always at the mercy of local winds and they can't operate in bad weather conditions.

    Passangers generally don't want to travel that slowly, and when they do, boats and trains provide a far cheaper alternative.
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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Sod airships, I can see the appeal in a way. Would be a truly grand way to travel, however what I want to see is the return of something like Concord. I want to be able to cross the Atlantic in a few hours not 8!

    IMO we have gone backwards in that respect, same goes for crossing the channel in a way, I know there is the train but I miss the huge SRN4 class hovercrafts. They were fast (actually quicker than the train on calm days) and good fun.

    I hate ferries, they are just so slow and dull, plus they feel like a cross between a floating Welcome Break and Butlins.

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    Anything can be fixed with branding.
    Get Apple to do it. iAirSheep
    (I don't even like the 'sheep' label people throw around, but it's somehow appropriate this time)

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by Salazaar View Post
    This.

    There's all sorts of reasons they're not really practical for general use.
    If Katla erupts, you'll wish we had invested in non-airplane ways of crossing the Atlantic!

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by 99Flake View Post
    Sod airships, I can see the appeal in a way. Would be a truly grand way to travel, however what I want to see is the return of something like Concord. I want to be able to cross the Atlantic in a few hours not 8!
    My aunt used to fly a lot with her previous job, as one of those fancy-pants people in super-duper class. Even though she could expense Concorde easily, she only flew it once - citing Economy Class seating & comfort. Let's face it, this looks pretty crappy compared to, say, this - let alone what the expensive tickets on airlines like Emirates gets you.

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    I guess the argument is that you don't need a bed for a 3 hour flight... and I'm tempted to agree.

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by snootyjim View Post
    I guess the argument is that you don't need a bed for a 3 hour flight... and I'm tempted to agree.
    How about a seat?

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    Re: Why isn't anyone working on viable passenger airships?

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    My aunt used to fly a lot with her previous job, as one of those fancy-pants people in super-duper class. Even though she could expense Concorde easily, she only flew it once - citing Economy Class seating & comfort. Let's face it, this looks pretty crappy compared to, say, this - let alone what the expensive tickets on airlines like Emirates gets you.
    It may be cramped but I would prefer that (although it is still not as cramped as a normal economy aircraft) than to be in 1st class for 8 hours. It is just wasted time surely?

    Not to mention the fact that Concord just rocked in every way possible.

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