Third on my List
1. Flying Cars
2. Jet Packs
3. This Thing:
The Aeroscraft is a heavier-than-air vehicle currently in development for use in the near future -- a prototype should be finished by 2010. It will be able to haul massive amounts of cargo and transport hundreds of passengers in luxury with quiet, electric engines. It will also be able to take off and land without an airstrip. The Aeroscraft is sort of a hybrid -- it carries helium, like a blimp, but its shape provides lift, like an airplane.
I'm telling you, we need more ships in the sky. If you're going to travel with a group, it should be a graceful and elegant experience. If you just need to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, that's what items 1 and 2 are for.
Comments
this reminds me of the cargolifter project. i wonder if the technical complexity of this thing is low enough as compared to the cargolifter for it to actually ever see production ...
Posted by: eisendorn![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 25, 2006 08:33 AM
From the article:
"the Aeroscraft's size: 165 feet high, 244 feet wide and 647 feet long. That's about as long as two football fields. It will carry up to 400 tons of cargo over a range of 6,000 miles. With a top speed of 174 mph, it will be able to cross the U.S. in about 18 hours."
This ship won't put a dent in business travel, but if you're traveling for pleasure, it would be nice to make "getting there" part of the fun.
Something with this kind of space could have shopping, a casino, dining area, entertainment, and private staterooms.
Posted by: Stephen Gordon![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 25, 2006 03:23 PM
Airships are fun to obsess over. See also here and here.
Posted by: Michael Anissimov![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 26, 2006 01:00 AM
As much as I would like airships to be practical, it does not appear to be possible. Any airship large enough to perform meaningful work seems to invariably crash due to weather. The sheer size and light mass makes them prisoners of the wind. The idea of stratospheric, permanent airships does seem practible however. I remember reading in Joe Haldeman's SciFi book, 'The Forever War', about stratospheric nuclear powered hot air airships and was captivated by the idea. Above the weather and permanently powered. Cool idea.
Posted by: Toby928![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 26, 2006 08:26 AM
Ah, but this thing isn't lighter than air. It is heavier than air, but lighter than an airplane of equal capacity. Bouyancy assisted.
Posted by: triticale![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 26, 2006 11:38 AM