Return of the Zeppelin: FAA green-light puts Lockheed Martin’s airship on track to hit skies by 2018

[RagnarokDel]

So apparently the Zeppelin is making a comeback

 

 

 

Steering well-clear of a certain combustible element at the top left of the periodic table and incorporating a long list of other modern tweaks, Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Enterprises are inching closer to bringing the iconic airships of the ’20s and ’30s into the modern era.

oh yeah and it wont use hydrogen apparently which I guess is a good thing.

 

They plan to use zeppelins to transport cargo over long distance. They just completed the last step before being able to sell the airships. Speaking of, they're quite sexy looking... I mean for a flying muffin

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, the U.S Federal Aviation Administration approved Lockheed’s project-specific certification plan for its Hybrid Airship, removing the final regulatory hurdle standing between the project’s development and potential buyers.

 

 

 

 

 

 The new flyer combines buoyant lift from lighter-than-air helium with aerodynamic and direct lift in order to get off the ground. With a hefty payload capacity of 21 tonnes and the ability to land on virtually any surface, including sand, snow, dirt and even water, using its air cushion landing system, the vehicle is designed for transporting both cargo and people to difficult-to-access sites.

 

I wonder if it would be possible to make a zeppelin "space elevator"? Not necessarily carry to the space station but like get you to the edge so you dont have to use massive rockets?

 

Designs for larger ones are already made. 

 

 

 

After launching the 21-tonne version of its modernized Zeppelin, Lockheed has plans to scale up the technology, which will allow it to take on a larger role across the entire transportation market. The company has drawn up blueprints for a 90-tonne airship, as well as a mammoth 500-tonner. At about 800 feet, the airship would dwarf anything in the skies today and match the size of the largest airships ever built.

 

http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/return-of-the-zeppelin-faa-green-light-puts-lockheed-martins-airship-on-track-to-hit-skies-by-2018-158244/

 

edit: added video of the maiden test flight

[FloRolf]

Where live i can see multiple zeppelins flying a day

[RagnarokDel]

Where live i can see multiple zeppelins flying a day

I've never seen one where do you live?

[DigitalHermit]

Zeppelins...

This better be coming in the foreseeable future...

[SuperCookie78]

The only reason we don't have this already is because everybody got scared from the hindinberg. And thought hydrogen is dangerous. Hydrogen isn't dangerous if it is the only thing in an environment like a sealed ballon.

[Aytex]

The only reason we don't have this already is because everybody got scared from the hindinberg. And thought hydrogen is dangerous. Hydrogen isn't dangerous if it is the only thing in an environment like a sealed ballon.

i love hydrogen, like if you burn every tiem

[RagnarokDel]

The only reason we don't have this already is because everybody got scared from the hindinberg. And thought hydrogen is dangerous. Hydrogen isn't dangerous if it is the only thing in an environment like a sealed ballon.

Helium is safer and therefore it wins. Personally I prefer not taking unnecessary risks when it comes to flying.

[pagani123]

So apparently the Zeppelin is making a comeback

 

so im an aircraft enthusiast i have to nitpick here its technically not a zeppelin. those only refer to a certain line of German airships. also i couldn't find any information on it but is this a rigid airship, semi rigid airship, or a blimp.

[RagnarokDel]

so im an aircraft enthusiast i have to nitpick here its technically not a zeppelin. those only refer to a certain line of German airships. also i couldn't find any information on it but is this a rigid airship, semi rigid airship, or a blimp.

I have no clue but to me it looks at least somewhat rigid in the picture.

[pagani123]

The only reason we don't have this already is because everybody got scared from the hindinberg. And thought hydrogen is dangerous. Hydrogen isn't dangerous if it is the only thing in an environment like a sealed ballon.

actually hydrogen is dangerous there is never a fully sealed balloons air will always find a way in plus having gas engines near hydrogen isnt a good idea

[pagani123]

I have no clue but to me it looks at least somewhat rigid in the picture.

seems like it i would love to go on a rigid airship i have been on a blimp but not quite as interesting too simple

[SuperCookie78]

actually hydrogen is dangerous there is never a fully sealed balloons air will always find a way in plus having gas engines near hydrogen isnt a good idea

that's the problem is that you can't have a perfectly sealed ballon.

[SuperCookie78]

actually hydrogen is dangerous there is never a fully sealed balloons air will always find a way in plus having gas engines near hydrogen isnt a good idea

you could have electric motors. But then you have to make sure the wiring isn't faulty. A the risks of airships how we love you

[Yog]

I really like this idea simply because it could possibly open a new direction for goods to be transported. Imagine if airports only ever had to deal with passengers now, instead of cargo as well. Companies like FedEx that ship a lot through airports could use these airships instead and possible land them anywhere. Maybe even Amazon could get in on this and have their own transportation network...from warehouse to the distribution center using the airships and then from the distribution centers to the homes using drones.

[Trixanity]

What's the speed on it? I could imagine that being a detractor, but honestly have no clue what to expect in that department.

I mean for one thing I imagine planes being significantly faster. Don't know about other transportation.

[Fetzie]

I really like this idea simply because it could possibly open a new direction for goods to be transported. Imagine if airports only ever had to deal with passengers now, instead of cargo as well. Companies like FedEx that ship a lot through airports could use these airships instead and possible land them anywhere. Maybe even Amazon could get in on this and have their own transportation network...from warehouse to the distribution center using the airships and then from the distribution centers to the homes using drones.

 

Don't they subsidize passenger fares with cargo in the hold of passenger flights?

[Fred Castellum]

Zeppelins...

This better be coming in the foreseeable future...

Yes please. Command and control airships!

[SuperCookie78]

What's the speed on it? I could imagine that being a detractor, but honestly have no clue what to expect in that department.

I mean for one thing I imagine planes being significantly faster. Don't know about other transportation.

probably about the same speed as a massive cargo ship that takes stuff from China to the US. This would be better for places with out airports but have relatively flat ground. Like parts of the Middle East and Latin America or places where the runways are really dangerous.

[Admiral Naismith]

I want to know what they've done to take care of the 'issues' that plagued airships like these before... Like strong winds (so many funny stories about run-away blimps...).

I'd imaging they're using chambers, otherwise one puncture and it's all over (aka *sshole with a gun/sharp stick).

[thekeemo]

Fun fact the only reason that Hydrogen was used was because the USA refused to give Germany helium

[SSL]

I always thought airships ended not because of the Hindenberg but because of their inability to handle adverse weather conditions. I belive multiple US ariships were lost at sea or in other weather related accidents.

[HalGameGuru]

I've been saying dirigibles need to make a major comeback for years.

 

I think they have a bright future alongside quadcopter/drone technology. Imagine commuter travel by airship? regional or intramural airship use in the bus/train systems? 24 hour delivery service made possible by nigh silent airships?

[FloRolf]

I've never seen one where do you live?

In the city they were invented by Graf Zeppelin. Friedrichshafen, germany!

[Stefan1024]

Well they may figure it out how to make a good Zeppelin this time.

 

Last time the US made a bad ass Zeppelin it crashed after 2 years. It was a flying aircraft carrier that was pretty cool, but vulnerable to havy wind.

If you are intreseted in more fact look for "USS Macon".

 

 

Even modern engineering can't break the law of physics. The ration of body size to the thrust from the engines is assumably still pretty low, makeing the airship still vulnerable to havy wind.

But I give them a chance and look how well they will do.

[pagani123]

I always thought airships ended not because of the Hindenberg but because of their inability to handle adverse weather conditions. I belive multiple US ariships were lost at sea or in other weather related accidents.

that is one of the reaseons why they stooped making ridged airships. also they are slow so they are more like cruise ships than aircraft in terms of getting where you wanted to go. (not a bad idea to make a cruise ship like dirigible you could go anywhere)