Giant Airship Poised for Liftoff - The Bullet 580

The Bullet 580, a helium-filled tanker, can carry 1,000 pounds of payloads up to 20,000 feet above Earth.

Giant Airship Poised for Liftoff - The Bullet 580

After a 100-year dry spell in technological innovation, a pioneering inflatable airship is about to debut, promising an aerial experience for science experiments, as well as a sky-based platform to relay communications and to keep watch on oil spills, forest fires or even pirates at sea.

The 235-foot airship, called the Bullet 580, also could be used to transport heavy equipment to remote locations.

"We're kind of like a truck in the sky that can have different types of payloads for different requirements," Mike Lawson, chief executive of Alabama-based E-Green Technologies, told Discovery News.

A prototype 125-foot Bullet Airship is shown in flight.
The larger, 235-foot airship, called the Bullet 580 is due to be
inflated later this month. E-Green Technologies

Well this might explain a few of the recent UFO sightings that have been reported recently.

[edit on 5/6/2010 by UberL33t]

reply to post by UberL33t


It clearly states that this is the prototype. And it is the smaller model.
The Bullet 580 won't even be inflated until later this month. I would doubt
that this is what people are sighting as UFO's. Why would you think
that this is what people are seeing? Just curious. Do you think this airbag
somehow gets around the earth and is declared a UFO? I think that people
would know an inflated balloon from a saucer or triangle or a ton of other
UFO types. But not a balloon. I would like to know what the folks from
Alabama say about that, since that is where E-Green Technologies is
based.

One other note. A helium filled airship like only has a useful load of around
1,000 pounds. That's hardly a heavy load as the article states.

I want to fly in this instead.



Or maybe a baseball.

If you like that, check out this: news.cnet.com...

When this becomes available, I'm in! Like a cruise ship in the sky!

A giant balloon with engines.....no thanks. Where are they going to strap the payload? Give me a DIRIGIBLE with a proper payload bay. This is just going to end badly.

reply to post by DiabolusFireDragon


The worlds first flying casino ship was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture.

Here's another company doing something similar.
Toledo Blade Archive

A year ago, a start-up company developing an unusual airship for hauling cargo moved to Toledo Express Airport from northeast Ohio.

The company, Ohio Airships Inc., received a $50,000 grant from the Regional Growth Partnership's Rocket Ventures Fund to help it soar to the next business level.

I live near this location, but have not yet seen a test flight of this vehicle.

Edited to fix link to full article.

[edit on 5/6/2010 by zlastonetoknow]

[edit on 5/6/2010 by zlastonetoknow]

I should add that this has technically been classified as an airplane and not an airship. I just think it is interesting that many companies are trying to get into this niche for moving cargo.

reply to post by DiabolusFireDragon


i think these look more awesome than that one





would you guys go on one of these?

Never, ever get on the maiden voyage of some new form of transport. You're doomed to end up on Turner Movie Classics dieing some horrible death.

reply to post by toreishi


The profile shot of the ship in the first video looked like a giant whale in the sky! I'm much rather fly in one of those than a regular passenger jet. Even though a jet would be much faster, being able to relax in a restaurant, bar, or take a nap in a comfy room would be better for me. Plus I'd rather float back down to earth in the case of an emergency than crash in a jet. Maybe a safety parachute backup system? Can you tell I hate flying, lol?

reply to post by toreishi


Video #2 reminds me of the Flight of the Navigator ship....only BIG

I'd go on'em

This reminds me of the Aeon Flux movie. Not sure why, I doubt they are going to be storing DNA on this thing.