Comments on: Giant Blimp on the Rise

By: JONATHAN JONES

JONATHAN JONES — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:17:38 +0000

THE HINDENBURG SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND REBUILT. I’D LIKE TO SEE A MILE LONG BY A HALF MILE WIDE ONE IN THE SKY!!!

By: dofus gold

dofus gold — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:18:35 +0000

At that time I do not know how to play this game, nothing to know, all things I will asked her, at the beginning we were very happy, we together to play and together to buy dofus gold but a long time after, she was not happy again, she thought that my level was lower

By: cheap kamas

cheap kamas — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:15:08 +0000

I spend many time to play this game and spend much money to bought the cheap kamas, although in order to her I give up many chance, but in my mind I did not had a little sad or regret, because I know that she was worth me to love.

By: Ben Nelson

Ben Nelson — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:27:55 +0000

Build thousands of midget size survailence blimps and watch every street in Bagdad and every place needed to stop IEDs. Ben Nelson USAF retired

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 10:02:53 +0000

1) I’d like to see these used for fighting wildfires out west. Five or six of these units custom-fitted with sprinkler lines (making it look more like a daddy-longlegs than a walrus) can surround an area and lay down a steady drizzle/downpour until the blaze burns itself out. It seems to me that a few thousand tons of water concentrated over the firezone could last a weekend or more.
2) This whole idea reminds me of Bucky Fuller’s theoretical Clond Nines: http://www.jerrypournelle.com/archives2/archives2mail/mail311.html#Nine

By: Joe Katzman

Joe Katzman — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:26:27 +0000

Here’s the DID in-depth profile link for the Walrus Program:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/10/walrus-heavylift-blimp-getting-off-the-ground/index.php
And here’s a good “kick-start an industry” example:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/05/ssc-developing-multiple-uses-for-airbeam-technology/index.php
Lots of uses for confined gas these days. A natural idea, I guess, being in Washington.…

By: Joe Katzman

Joe Katzman — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:24:27 +0000

Lockheed won because the bidder was the Lockheed Skunk Works (ADP), who developed the U-2, SR-71, et. al. There isn’t a more respected name in aviation anywhere in the world if you’re going for a breakthrough, and DARPA is.
Aeros must have had a very good proposal to be the #2.
Defense Industry Daily’s in-depth profile on the Walrus project includes a note re: Milennium Airships, which may have lost the bid but could definitely remain involved in the project.
Finally, I’m really sorry SkyCat didn’t win because they seem to have a very good grasp of the civilian end, and civilian HULA production would help in a number of ways. I hope they go on to succeed in the civil market, and pick up some military contracts for border surveillance SkyCat-20s as well.
Long term, I think the US Army would be wise to think about kick-starting an industry here. Wouldn’t be the first time — not even for inflatables…

By: Marcus Shiffler

Marcus Shiffler — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:06:37 +0000

I'd lay odds the Air Force might imagine F/A-18D "Super Hornet" makes a right dandy transport plane. And I'd lay odds they dislike the C-5 despite its effeciencies and purposes, because it is "The only plane in the military that gets down on all fours and takes it from both ends" during loading. Whatever practical purpose these blimps may have, I don't believe the government is capable of employing it to that purpose, if only from pessimism of where I see a lot of military money going, sometimes. Still, it isn't a bad idea. Heck, its probably a great idea. But I'd lay odds its'n more likely someone's idea of a deployable special strike force, or an aerial armed empire of ZEPP. ... Not good uses.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 21:55:37 +0000

Blimps originally went to the weighside for a few reasons, namely speed. blimps aren’t fast, faster than sea based ships yes, but not faster than helicopters –which from a military standpoint is what really took the place of blimps– I think many people have felt they put the blimp to rest too soon and I’d agree. A blimp as a mobile C&C platform with troop and equipment transport-where speed is not of a concern– is an idea long overdue. although giant targets and not what i would recommend for hovering over downtown Kabul with a general or two in it, its a good idea. Blimps as an Offensive weapon is not a good idea.
As for the current rescue mission in New Orleans, why not use the military’s current heavy transport hovercrafts? They seem ideal to me.

By: Dayon

Dayon — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:21:04 +0000

The skin of currently made blimps is artifically colored. It is the same material that was used in the Glossimer Albetrois and the Solar Challenger. The material can be made totally transparent. Then the only parts that would be visable would be the gondola, motorworks, and what it was carrying. They also have an extremely lower radar signature. More information on the material can be had from DuPont.
Check out some of the back issues of Popular Mech, Popular Science, Aviation Magazine on LTAS (Lighter Than Air Ships) for more information.