Airlander is Go

[bertiedog]

The Airlander's basic problem is that it is an Airship.......unwieldy, ungainly, underpowered, and difficult to fly. Zeppelin got the design right over a hundred years ago, and showed all the same troubles as well.

 

It's first flight was typical, the drone of small engines flat out, and the thing going nowhere very slowly. These modern designs are plagued by dreams of small lightweight engines that are efficient, but when it comes down to holding a airship in the wind, brute force is needed! Zeppelin knew this and made sure his airships were manoeuvrable using large power engines.

 

I love airships, it's great to see a British effort, but talk about flogging a very tired old horse, despite some interesting innovations, like ground docking, and the aerodynamic shaping.

 

Love to see it successful, but as what?, any military use must be very limited, as it is an easy target, passengers?, it is too small, and cargo is somewhat limited.

 

Perhaps a coat of green paint, and Thunderbirds are Go...on the side might work!!!

 

Stephen

[bertiedog]

The reports earlier that it hit a telegraph pole are apparently said to be incorrect, although a trailing rope did run across a fence at one point in the flight. At least nobody was hurt in the slow motion crash, but they have lost all the avionics and control systems, perhaps a lesson that on the underside it is far too exposed in a crash, something Zeppelin never really solved.

[Baby Deltic]

Arse cheeks indeed. Designed from practicality, no doubt, but hideous nonetheless.

Edit: It even appears to be wearing a thong... Ugh.

 

airlander.jpg

Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters.

What are those two erm..... flaps either side of the 'thong'? Or is it very short legs and very long feet?