The problems have been with practicality.

For the cost - fixed-wing aircraft have offered superior function and performance to anything that could be offered in the form of an airship.

However, newer technologies have allowed for more practical applications of the concept - stronger alloys, composites, and polymers allow for larger volumes of inert gasses to be used; photovoltaics and electric motors make an electric-powered airship a good idea, and better meteorology, automation, and navigational data make the prediction of routes much safer and more reliable.

Satellite uplinks even make it so that a commuter service based off of these ships would not be all that agonizing - and the weight of 'a room full of air' is almost negligible by comparison to the far more dense materials that will be carried as cargo/passengers - so you won't have to be cooped up in a small seat.

Although landing, docking, and maintenance still will be some fairly large hurdles. Airship hangars have to be absolutely massive by comparison to fixed-wing aircraft of the same cargo/passenger capacity - even if you plan to inflate/deflate for maintenance inside of a hangar.

Yes, with new technologies, new and improved materials, and ever rising fuel costs, Airships are looking better and better as an alternative to conventional, heavier than air vehicles.

Improvements in communications technology are steadily making travel-for-business less of a requirement and more of a luxury.

The true cost of a "long supply-line" economy is facing increasing resistance in the face of 21st century realities.

And new materials like Graphine, becoming available on a more commercial scale, make the rennaisance of the Airship more than a just a pipe dream.


I've often wondered about the possiblity of constructing a hybrid, helium/hydrogen bi-gas airship.

For efficiency and cost, the primary lifting gas would be hydrogen. But for the sake of safety, the hydrogen-filled lifting cells would be "piggy-backed" above a "safety buffer" layer of non-flammable, helium-filled cells, below which passengers and/or cargo would be protected in a fire-proof fuselage.


Yes, I dream big!


ETA: I'd like to see this thread become sort of a "brain-storming" forum for ideas on how to design a modern Airship, incorporating as many of the newest ideas, technologies and material available (please, no anti-gravity posts, unless you have actual blueprints, patent #'s, and or commercial supplier for the anti-grav units themselves!)

Let's keep it real, with the intent of maybe inspiring someone to Make It For Real!


With the OP's permission, of course.

And to get the ball rolling ...S&F!

Practically this most certainly is a rational and achievable technology/concept.

Realistically it can never be realized because of the times we live in. Such a vehicle would immediately become such an irresistible target for terrorism that it is doomed to be one of those ideas that (forgive me) can never get off the ground.

Originally posted by samstone11
Realistically it can never be realized because of the times we live in. Such a vehicle would immediately become such an irresistible target for terrorism that it is doomed to be one of those ideas that (forgive me) can never get off the ground.

Actually this is the best kind of vehicle to resist terrorism.

Consider how much damage a high speed jet aircraft does when flown into a building or ship.

Is it any wonder the concorde supersonic fleet was grounded and entirely scrubbed?

A zeppelin is slow moving, the worst someone could do is park it on something.


David Grouchy