33 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

A radical new kind of airship funded by the US military is about to make its first test flight - and it looks uncannily like the Thunderbird 2 craft from the classic TV show.

The Aeroscraft airship will carry three times as much as the biggest military cargo planes over thousands of miles, use a third of the fuel, and it doesn't even need a landing strip.

It could also have major implications for cargo haulage, and almost everything now laboriously transported across the planet's surface by boat, train and lorry could within years be carried through the skies, its makers claim.

http://www.dailymail...m--warfare.html

[QuiteContrary]

Is this for real? Very cool!!!

[praetorian-legio XIII]

Very cool for a commercial cargo mover but military applications? Seems like it would be an easy target, slow,big and full of compressed gas.

[pitchp]

yep looks like a ufo

[Coffey]

praetorian-legio XIII, on 07 January 2013 - 10:16 PM, said:

Very cool for a commercial cargo mover but military applications? Seems like it would be an easy target, slow,big and full of compressed gas.

Exactly what I was thinking. Certainly wouldn't be a front line thing.

[keithisco]

This is interesting, but the Pentagon has already successfully flown (August 2012) a fully developed 304ft long airship built by Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV) of Bedford UK (in partnership with Northrop - Grumman) as a Military Surveillance Platform. for use in Theatres of War (Afghanistan). I am very proud to have had some involvement in this airship at an early stage.

HAV may also develop a 1000Ton Lift airship for specific markets. Airships are virtually impervious to attacks by ground based artillery (the rents in the fabric being too small to actually cause catastrophic gas escape - leading instead to a gradual, controlled, degradation of lift).

Check out their site, and be a little less impressed with what the Pentagon are proposing

http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/

[ExoPaul]

Not front line maybe but imagine if you wanted to move all your military to an allied country next door, such as what they did during the Gulf wars. Rather than dozens of cargo planes flying in and out, it would just require one or two blimps to carry all the equipment in. Everything would be on site incredibly quickly, all together, ready to operate much faster and most of all in these economic times, much, much cheaper!

I am not sure on the height limits of the vehicle but most enemies of the state tend to countries with military limitations rather than Russia or China who could counter it! It therefore could be possible for it to hover over a country like Afgahnistan, Yemen, maybe Syria and survelliance at a safe height while also carrying a compliment of fully fuelled and armed Drones on board for attacks.

[wolfknight]

Will be great if it flys. Wonder how many million or billions was spent on this? Thunders are a GO!!!!

[keithisco]

wolfknight, on 09 January 2013 - 02:45 PM, said:

Will be great if it flys. Wonder how many million or billions was spent on this? Thunders are a GO!!!!

The 304ft surveillance airship cost 150M USD to develop and deploy. This is less than 1 JSF

Edited by keithisco, 09 January 2013 - 02:56 PM.

[maximusnow]

This is the future,  Imagine a floating aircraft carrier, twice as large as what we have in the waters. It would look like this air craft but HUGE! with a flat deck on top that could house 40 plus aircraft and maintain its position for 6 plus months. Refuelers and supply floatillas servicing these craft. This craft wold have the same countermeasures that our current Naval vessels use to prevent being sunk or shot down. It would allow us to hover a base, above our enemy and rain down thousands of android or humanoid troops at a moments notice. It would have large Air locks for Smaller Air ships to Dock for ground support.
Now take it to the next level of the imagination....It could travel into space just like the ballon that a human leaped from and avoid re entry burn up, by never re-entering.

Ok i took it to far ...its neat!

[Zaphod222]

Why call it "UFO"? This is simply a Zeppelin, one of the oldest technologies. A modern version of the Hindenburgh, nothing more. It is ridiculous to insinuate SciFi technology when basically this is just a modern balloon.

[marcos anthony toledo]

Lets bring backe commerial at a gasZepperlin for world wide cargo and tourist travel what a way to tour the world what a gas and lets use Hydrogen as the fuel safer than gasoline and more plentyful.

[paperdyer]

marcos anthony toledo, on 09 January 2013 - 04:10 PM, said:

Lets bring backe commerial at a gasZepperlin for world wide cargo and tourist travel what a way to tour the world what a gas and lets use Hydrogen as the fuel safer than gasoline and more plentyful.

Well in Hindenburg comes to mind.

[Tesla II]

praetorian-legio XIII, on 07 January 2013 - 10:16 PM, said:

Very cool for a commercial cargo mover but military applications? Seems like it would be an easy target, slow,big and full of compressed gas.

Imagine it full of drones, drone carrier flying high above, better?

Edit: Oh Pentagon is in with this well then it gets a hell of alot better!

Edited by Nuke_em, 09 January 2013 - 04:54 PM.

[Taun]

marcos anthony toledo, on 09 January 2013 - 04:10 PM, said:

Lets bring backe commerial at a gasZepperlin for world wide cargo and tourist travel what a way to tour the world what a gas and lets use Hydrogen as the fuel safer than gasoline and more plentyful.

Hydrogen is definitly NOT safer than gasoline... If anything it is much more hazardous... Helium or a helium/mix is the way to go...

Edited by Taun, 09 January 2013 - 04:57 PM.