Large, Slow Airships Could Move Buildings 184
Algorithmnast writes "The Economist has a short article on using big, slow-moving airships to move large objects without the need to dismantle them. The company mentioned, Skylifter, refers to the lifting ship as an 'aerial crane,' not a Thor weapon. It could easily help move research labs to new parts of the Antarctic, or allow a Solar Tower to be inserted into an area that's difficult to drive to, such as a mesa in New Mexico."
Re:Absolutely Terrible Idea (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Helium (Score:5, Informative)
"to lift 1000 grams (1 kg), you need about 163 grams (~0.16 kg) of helium" [anl.gov]
150 tons = 150,000 kg [wolframalpha.com]
150,000 * 163 = 24,450,000 grams of helium needed [wolframalpha.com]
24,450,000 grams of helium = 137,000 cubic meters [wolframalpha.com]
"A billion cubic metres - or about half of the world's reserves" [independent.co.uk]
2 billion / 137,000 = 14,598.5 [wolframalpha.com]
14,598.5 airships before we run out of the current reserves. I think we're good. (Except for that last half airship, it'll be kinda screwed.)
Re:Get the puns out of the way (Score:3, Informative)
You can no longer use that phrase as the MythBusters showed you can make a balloon out of lead [youtube.com] and have it float.
I prefer to use the phrase, "It will go over like a granite balloon."
Has been done before - and failed spectacularly. (Score:5, Informative)
Remember Cargo Lifter [cargolifter.com]?
One of the most spectacular failures during the wild technology startup stampede a decade ago in Germany. They burned several hundred millions before folding.
The only remaining legacy is a huge indoor pool in their former airship hangar...
Re:Is the company called ACME? (Score:3, Informative)
Wile E. Coyote? Road Runner? A high speed pest?
Giant building sized anvil dropped from excessive heights courtesy an ACME Skylifter?
The joke - it is now explained
Re:Yeah, I saw that movie too. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Thermite paint (Score:3, Informative)
Hindenburg paint as the cause of the disaster is a myth that has been debunked but alas still persists.
This is a good page I found with a quick Google search. Follow the links inside for in-detail information and maybe hopefully we can put this to rest.
http://www.airships.net/hindenburg-paint/ [airships.net]