John MacNeill
Even though the Aeroscraft dwarfs the largest commercial airliners, it requires less net space on the ground than any plane because it doesn't need a runway. The airship takes off and lands like a helicopter: straight up and down.
The Flying Luxury Hotel
Tomorrow's cruise ship will sail through the air, not the water
By Joshua Tompkins
John MacNeill
LIFTOFF! On a pressurized plane, windows like these would explode outward . The Aeroscraft does not fly high enough to need pressurization.
This is not a Blimp. It's a sort of flying Queen Mary 2 that could change the way you think about air travel. It's the Aeroscraft, and when it's completed, it will ferry pampered passengers across continents and oceans as they stroll leisurely about the one-acre cabin or relax in their well-appointed staterooms.
Unlike its dirigible ancestors, the Aeroscraft is not lighter than air. Its 14 million cubic feet of helium hoist only two thirds of the craft's weight. The rigid and surprisingly aerodynamic body—driven by huge rearward propellers—generates enough additional lift to keep the behemoth and its 400-ton payload aloft while cruising. During takeoff and landing, six turbofan jet engines push the ship up or ease its descent.
This two-football-fields-long concept airship is the brainchild of Igor Pasternak, whose privately-funded California firm, Worldwide Aeros Corporation, is in the early stages of developing a prototype and expects to have one completed by 2010. Pasternak says several cruise ship companies have expressed interest in the project, and for good reason: The craft would have a range of several thousand miles and, with an estimated top speed of 174 mph, could traverse the continental U.S. in about 18 hours. During the flight, passengers would peer at national landmarks just 8,000 feet below or, if they weren't captivated by the view, the cavernous interior would easily accommodate such amenities as luxury staterooms, restaurants, even a casino.
To minimize noise, the aft-mounted propellers will be electric, powered by a renewable source such as hydrogen fuel cells. A sophisticated buoyancy-management system will serve the same purpose as trim on an airplane, allowing for precise adjustments in flight dynamics to compensate for outside conditions and passenger movement. The automated system will draw outside air into compartments throughout the ship and compress it to manage onboard weight.
The company envisions a cargo-carrying version that could deliver a store's worth of merchandise from a centralized distribution center straight to a Wal-Mart parking lot or, because the helium-filled craft will float, a year's worth of supplies to an offshore oil rig. "You can land on the snow, you can land on the water," Pasternak says. "It's a new vision of what can be done in the air."
Aeroscraft
Purpose: Long-range travel for passengers who are more concerned with the journey than the destination
Dimensions (feet): 165 h x 244 w x 647 l
Max Speed: 174 mph
Range: 6,000 miles
Capacity: 250 passengers
#1: A K A Stone To: Neil McIver (#0)
A K A Stone posted on 2006-02-21 07:42:38 Reply Private Reply
#2: A K A Stone To: All (#1)
A K A Stone posted on 2006-02-25 23:23:15 Reply Private Reply
#3: A K A Stone To: Neil McIver (#0)
Hey Neil whatever became of this flying luxury hotel?
A K A Stone posted on 2009-02-03 14:39:20 Reply Private Reply
#4: A K A Stone To: war (#3)
A K A Stone posted on 2009-02-03 18:33:01 Reply Private Reply
#5: Fred Mertz To: Neil McIver (#0)
How much is a bottle of beer?
Fred Mertz posted on 2009-02-03 21:14:04 Reply Private Reply
#6: A K A Stone To: Fred Mertz (#5)
How much would you be willing to pay?
A K A Stone posted on 2009-02-03 21:22:35 Reply Private Reply
#7: Murron To: A K A Stone, AKA Stone, Neil McIver, mel_living, Fred Mertz, Mudboy Slim (#6)
The Aeroscraft offers luxury and reliability in a time when most air travel is considered stuffy and uncomfortable. Amenities like gift shops, and more legroom than even a first class jet can offer make Aeroscraft an obvious choice for the future. In addition to providing more legroom and better customer service, Aeroscraft flights will also be available at much lower prices than traditional air based travel.
source
There are some who know first hand from they're business of building R/C Airships for camera-work and advertising, that this isn't cheap! They wonder whether an airship company with blimps the size of a cruise liner or Airbus would actually 'float' financially, or go down like the proverbial crapper?
For anyone interested, this is pretty much still in the experimental stages, so it might be something a person would want to invest in, just a thought.
It remains to be seen....
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 10:00:21 Reply Private Reply
#8: A K A Stone To: Murron (#7)
A K A Stone posted on 2009-02-04 10:15:56 Reply Private Reply
#9: Murron To: A K A Stone, war, ALL (#8)
Same here but I was remember a time, many years ago, when I received an investment package. My ground floor investment into would have been $600. I chose not to take the risk, I didn't think 'Satellite Television' would go anywhere! LMAO!
Sorry about that war, I meant to ping you too...
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 10:27:52 Reply Private Reply
#10: war To: Murron (#9)
war posted on 2009-02-04 10:28:57 Reply Private Reply
#11: Murron To: war (#10)
I would love to take a trip cross country on one (and I'd still be nervous) but don't think I'd be comfortable crossing the ocean with things the way they are today, it's too big a target...911 in the air comes to mind...
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 10:35:43 Reply Private Reply
#12: mel To: Murron (#7)
mel posted on 2009-02-04 11:43:28 Reply Private Reply
#13: Murron To: mel (#12)
I know what you mean, but just about everything we do once we walk out our door is a toss of the dice...
btw, you've got a pm...
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 11:59:02 Reply Private Reply
#14: Murron To: A K A Stone (#8)
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 13:45:42 Reply Private Reply
#15: mel To: Murron (#13)
mel posted on 2009-02-04 14:29:40 Reply Private Reply
#16: Murron To: mel (#15)
It would help to lessen some fear if a person were give a few moments notice of an impending crash...and a parachute!
Murron posted on 2009-02-04 14:34:32 Reply Private Reply
#17: Mudboy Slim To: A K A Stone (#8)
If it takes 18 hours to cross the U.S., I wonder how many days it would take to encircle the globe, not including stops...MUD
Mudboy Slim posted on 2009-02-06 19:08:19 Reply Private Reply
#18: Mudboy Slim To: war (#10)
If I was a mean guy, I'd mention something 'bout yer Missuz, but I ain't, so I won't.
LOL...MUD
BTW...a late congrats on the Steelers' win.
Mudboy Slim posted on 2009-02-06 19:11:19 Reply Private Reply
#19: war To: Mudboy Slim (#18)
war posted on 2009-02-07 00:11:47 Reply Private Reply
#20: Mudboy Slim To: war (#19)
My Skins have three, which is why I always pull against Pittsburgh, Dallas, and the Niners...MUD
Mudboy Slim posted on 2009-02-09 11:37:32 Reply Private Reply
#21: war To: Mudboy Slim (#20)
A losing battle...and don't get too cocky...you beat Denver and Buffalo...eveyone has...
war posted on 2009-02-09 13:07:25 Reply Private Reply
#22: A K A Stone To: Neil McIver (#0)
A K A Stone posted on 2017-01-03 21:04:25 Reply Private Reply