LM Airship

[candr]

It was suggested at one time to build one to transport the shuttle from the west to the east coast instead of a 747, Probably thought it would be a little easier and cheaper in the long run.

[phantom60504]

that looks like a flying pig sandwich O_o

All of a sudden im hungry.

[JAG03064]

Look out! it's the Stay Puff Marshmallow man!!!! Be afraid be very afraid....

[trespire]

"Pig on the wing"

[Angelcitysoul]

This is what Lockheed is wasting their money on? Pure genius.

[applesweeter]

Dear All,

I have some question about psychology:

(1) Why do we love flying?

(2) Why do we want to design new airship in this "jet-age"?

(3) What is the enjoyment to fly airship?

(4) Why do we like to draw beautiful planting on airship?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your creative ideas and brainstorm!!! :)

[redartatem9]

@applesweeter

(Since you are woman you cant find reply to your questions.. The World is ruled by men's egos)

[applesweeter]

@redartatem9

Please be respectful!!

Your commnet is sexual discrimination.

[redartatem9]

@applesweeter

I tougth it was funny :D... strange :/..

[Fraggle24]

.... It looks like a giant flying butt ... o_O

[6shooter1]

The only fly in the hydrocarbon (read: Lockheed-Martin) ointment is that Helium is becoming not only scarce, but expensive, since the US Govt is getting out of the He production biz (started many decades ago, after the Hindenberg crash). Helium is not in plentiful supply (like explosive Hydrogen) and is costly to generate. Always a catch somewhere, waiting to trip us up. Perhaps the answer lies in scaling-back tedchnology's expectations and curtailing our wasteful consumption predilections, eh?

[afleececooper]

Helium is (mostly) a by product of natural gas production. Worldwide demand for helium is very high, and the price in commands and spurred numerous new plants around the world.

It originates from alpha particle radiation decay, and will continue to be produced for ever, though at low volume per year.

Filling a ships like this is insignificant compared world wide use, and the gas is used for a long time.

Currently we need more plants to supply future demand, but the helium is there.

[pwnage0013]

I feel that as aviation fuel becomes very

expensive, airships will make a come back.

[anwealde]

I don't think it works "off of a vacuum" because I think the weight of material that is strong enough to sustain a vacuum is greater than the lift created by the vacuum

[thaape]

Actually anything that can be lifted by a gas (helium or hydrogen) can, by definition, be lifted by a vacuum.

[anwealde]

Is there an example of something that can be lifted by a vacuum without immediately losing the vacuum? The problem I alluded to is the lack of pressure in a vacuum which necessitates such strong yet light material. The outside environment would crush the P-791 if it contained a vacuum otherwise capable of lifting it

[randommagnum]

@thaape I think what anwealde is saying is that, in order to make this vehicle buoyant with a vacuum, the envelope would have to be made of materials that are not only rigid, but strong enough to withstand the difference in atmospheric pressure between the outside and inside; considering the huge surface area, that would be hard to get materials strong enough. If you fill it with a lifting gas, you don't have that technical obstacle...

...But, carbon nanotubes are something to think about...

[Raguleader]

@thaape Except that there's no vacuum involved if it's filled with a lighter-than-air gas. It works on the same exact principle as a boat or a ship, that is to say, displacement.

[TheFurBur]

@thaape You misunderstand. The vessel that is being lifted by helium cannot be lifted by a vacuum because it is not strong enough to contain one.

[Alexpaths]

I agree. I have actually looked into making a small vacuum airship the size of a party balloon from carbon fiber and so far the theoretical lift generated is great but add in the weight of the carbon the total lift is less than hydrogen.