Gizmodo
A San Francisco start-up called Airship Ventures has raised $8 million to launch its first Zeppelin this fall, for the purposes of tourism and research. The "flightseeing," as they're calling it, will cost a $250 to $500 for a spin around the Bay Area in a bonafide don't-call-it-a-blimp Zeppelin. What's the difference, you ask? Blimps are basically helium filled baloons with little cockpits attached. Zeppelins are usually rigid structures, larger and faster, achieving higher altitudes with better maneuverability. Before you airship nerds get all uppity, I will join you in saying that not all Zeppelins are Zeppelins (wha?)—it all boils down to the rigidity of your dirigible. Here's a rundown of this particular model, plus an actual photo of it:
The new Zeppelin NT—yes, capital Z because it's made by the Zeppelin company—is about 20% larger than a blimp, but it's still small by Zep standards, with just room for 12 passengers and a crew. It's "semi-rigid," meaning that it's got an internal framework but not a totally solid hull like the Zeppelins of old. It's also got a single gas chamber, rather than multiple cells. They also achieve lift with helium, which may make your voice sound funny, but won't go "boom" to the horror of radio announcers everywhere.
NTs have been in action since the 1990s, all over Europe and Japan. Fun fact: When a Japanese firm bought one in 2004, they wanted to re-enact a historic (pre-Axis) flight of the Graf Zeppelin, from Germany to Japan, but Russia said "Ix nay." [The Standard via Slashdot; More great pics from official Zeppelin site]
Comments
It's a shame that this large air craft got scrapped due to the Zeppelin incident. I hope they make a come back. I've seen designs of solar powered blimps that can carry large cargo loads. It'd be nice if we had these flying our cargo around.
I think the character Randy said it best in "A Christmas Story," Whoopie!! A Zeppelin!
Now hopefully Led Zeppelins can return to the US!
The generalized (non-brand specific) word for a lighter-than-air vehicle with a rigid skeleton would be an "airship".
Even the old, 1930s Zeppelins were supposed to use Helium, but the US wouldn't sell it to Nazi Germany.
...and that's why Pfizer makes so much money.
I was so excited when I read the title because I thought Led Zeppelin was coming back. But apparently this article is about zeppelins. Pfffft.
@RayZR: You really want Led Zeppelin to come back? Haven't you seen the Stones or the Who lately? Or Motley Crue and Van Halen, for that matter? Be careful what you wish for!
Big zeppelins are scary efficient for hauling large cargo. If gas prices keep going up, these might become more common.
I would love to see these in action more, on a larger scale for shipping and the like. Heck, I'd like to see passenger ones, although I don't think they move fast enough to really work for most folks. ~70mph, even if you can do it 24/7, is just not that fast.
@raleel: 70MPH non-stop is still faster than driving.
@jhuludgate:
seconded
@Wilson Rothman: agreed, anyone who saw GN'R at the VMA's should agree with this statement.
@LittleJon: Damn snooty non-dictatorships.
Sure, I'd spend $500 to ride in a giant penis.
Zeppelin NT???
They would sell many more of them if they renamed them Zeppelin Vista.
I'm in. It looks a LOT safer than a helicopter. I can't wait to see what dirigibles the future brings.
A little paranoid for corrections, are we?
Apparently, there's some interest in using Zeppelins for mapping and live reconnaissance by strapping extremely high resolution cameras under their bellies and letting them float around like giant eyes in the sky.
@Atsumi:"Sure, I'd spend $500 to ride in a giant penis."
Never has a preposition been quite so discouraging. That's right, "in," I'm looking at you...
Too bad helium isn't renewable and we're running out. via wikipedia:
"The world's helium supply may be in danger, according to Washington University in St. Louis chemist Lee Sobotka. The largest reserve is in Texas and would run out in eight years if consumed at the current pace."
@DarkNight_DS: Are you referring perhaps to the Hindenburg?
Oh, the humanity...
@Atsumi: who wouldnt?
@Scott_T: That's why we need to either A: send mining bots to the sun, or B: get crackin' with the Nuclear Power! Either one should give us Helium, right?
I heard an interview with an economist who said that in five years oil prices will be so high, only the rich will fly. He said that was independent of wars and trouble in the middle east, that is was due to the fact that the oil is about half gone.
Zeppelins may be a solution to that problem. Unfortunately helium is non-renewable resource. Hydrogen, despite its bad name is a better long term solution. And since they are much bigger seating, even beds, are not out the question.
+ Watch video
Graf Zeppelin stats...
Length - 776 feet / 236.53 meters
Diameter - 100 feet / 30.48 meters
Gas Volume - 3,700,000 cu. feet / 111,000 cu. meters
Engines - Five 550 hp Maybach engines
Maximum Speed - 80 mph / 128 km/h
Lifting Gas Type - Hydrogen
At that speed it could cross the Atlantic in about two days -- not bad.
Ok. I'll be the Airship Geek.
Points for trying to get it right, but no dice.
Airship= any air vessel with zero buoyancy. a hot air balloon counts as an airship.
Blimp= nickname for a non-rigid airship with directional steering capability.
Semi-rigid= The Zeppelin NT is one. It has a sort of "backbone" and a few triangular frames or ribs, but it's the pressure of the lifting gas that gives it its shape.
Rigid airship= These were invented by Count von Zeppelin and were made in large numbers before, during and after the first world war. They have a full "skeleton" that gives them their shape. The lofting gas is in multiple cells inside.
"Rigids" as they were called, were built in Germany, Britain, Russia and the States.
They big boys were AWESOME and we need them back!
Hugo Eckner, where are you?!?
@Gary_7vn: Thanks for the vid Gary. I hadn't seen that one!
Im all for this. I wonder how the environmental impact is compared to planes?
I would love to see a commercial zepplin company that would do short local flights for commutes rather than just tourism. But $250-500 per flight! That's insane. They need more volume and lower prices--bus fare type prices.
@WilCon:
Anyone remember the Hindenburg?
The last attempt to create a commercial cargo airship failed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargolifter
Hydrogen is an awsome gas and provides more lift than Helium. Just dont coat your airship in thermite.
IT'S NOT A BALLOON! IT IS AN AIRSHIP!!! GET OUT!!!
+ Watch video
A significant problem for hydrogen used in any mode of transportation is storage.
Porous, semi ridgid aerogel-like substances are being toyed with to meter gozinto/gozoutof in tanks that become ruptured.
The idea here would be to create a large lifting body shape from the aerogel (you can sculpt the foam so why be limited to a penile balloon?) with an outer sealed skin. Pressurize the tank with hydrogen to stiffen the structure in a fashion similar to LEI kites.
Because the craft is shaped to include a lift component, mass associated with the aerogel is offset.
The craft will fly faster and if zapped by static, lightning, missiles, etc.. the hydrogen is not suddenly released to Hindenburg.
The stored hydrogen is also now available for use by low emission engines.
I built one in my basement but you can't see it till my mom let's me tear the house down to get it out.
@nosauten
Remember that the Hindenburg was painted with thermite?
It wasn't the H2 that was the problem. It was the thermite paint.
@Snorbalp: That is my possibly my favorite Python of all time, and I've never met anyone else (besides my brother) who has ever heard of it.
In ze drawing room...
@Oldbrass: Nice recap, I'm all in for the round the world rigids trip.
I have to admit that I'm a HUGE Zeppelin geek and probably know more about them than is healthy. If any of you find your self in southern Bavaria, go to the city of Friedrichshafen and visit the Zeppelin Museum [www.zeppelin-museum.de]
The website is hideously out of date but the actual museum is truly fantastic. Well worth the entry fee. The town's great too. Plus, they have a Zeppelin NT there that you can pay for a ride on and see the sites. Friedrichshafen is where it all began, after all.
ZEP.
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