Gizmodo: Airships

Zeppelins Return to US, Slightly Less Flammable Now

Wilson Rothman — Sun, 11 May 2008 10:30:00 EDT

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]

Airship Yachts for Fun and Profit

Charlie White — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:03:27 EST

If you're looking for a lighter-than-air yacht, 21st Century Airships builds highly advanced craft that can be used for promotions or just for fun. Powered by a hybrid diesel and electric system, the spherical orbs can have a full luxury cabin built inside for their lucky occupants. These airship yachts can be custom built to exacting specifications and can lazily float and fly cross-country or even across oceans.

21st Century Airships is even working on projecting full-motion text or video on the inside of these spectacular craft, and can build them with just about any design on the outside. The company is also experimenting with high-altitude airships which could be parked at 65,000 feet in the stratosphere to be used for cellphone antennas and other communications.

Air-Yachts [The Cool Hunter]

Super-Luxury Vacations Aboard Airborne Cruise Ships?

Charlie White — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 10:17:34 EST

Some members of the Gizmodo team have flown on the Goodyear blimp, and marvel at that thrill of standing on a platform in the air. Now blimp maker Worldwide Aeros Corporation says it plans to offer that experience to paying customers by 2010. It has teamed up with hospitality and leisure firm WATG in an agreement to create a new class of super-luxury blimps that will function as airborne cruise ships and fly long-range routes across oceans. Inside its one-acre cabin will be restaurants, a casino, and lots of fancy hotel rooms. The company says these new airship resorts will have living quarters that rival the luxury cabins of the great ocean liners, and will also be packed to the gills with technological amenities. The concept ship is planned to be over 600 feet long with a top speed of 174 miles an hour.

Designer WATG is no stranger to high style and forward-looking design—the company had a hand in the design of the Venetian Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas among many others, and has forward-looking plans for an undersea hotel, and even a space resort. These are some big ideas, but you won't be able to make a reservation for any of these pie-in-the-sky schemes just yet. And didn't they try this before? Something about New Jersey?

Worldwide Aeros Announces Luxurious Airborne Cruise Ships [Born Rich]