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From: demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Airships, forsooth...
Message-ID: <925@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 23:47:51 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.925
Posted: Thu Apr 18 23:47:51 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 02:47:13 EST
References: <625@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 62

> I don't think we'll see a large upsurge of dirigibles:        
> 
> 1.  Public opinion.  EVERYBODY knows about the Hindenburg. 
> 
       A very good point, and probably the major one against passenger
liners...I keep forgetting about the "public opinion factor"

> 2.  Sensitivity to weather. 
> 
      Another good point, if we base everything on the "pre-1940" type
of technology. It seems like some of these problems may be overcome
in the longrun. Afterall, that IS what we pay aerospace engineers for,
isn't it? :-)

> 3.  Training
>
       I'm not convinced that this is really a problem, gotta train people
sometime...and there will always be something new to come along that NO
 ONE has experience with. You can't simple NOT invent (or in this case:
re-invent) something because there is no one around who can use it....

> 4.  Cost of construction.

       Hmmmm...well, go no argument from me there, but perhaps a cost
analysis study is in order...I'll get back to ya....

> 5. Non-autonomous operation. 

       Oh, I don't particularly agree with this one either: everything
has ground support crews...and if we are talking about something to carry
cargo, especially so: look at supertankers...think those can just "pull
into a peer" somewhere? Scores of people involved in that operation.

       Actually, the "supertanker" analogy could be applied to #4 above, as 
well....I would find it hard to beleive that mass producing derigibles
would be any more expensive than mass producing supertankers. (excluding
the prototypes, of course!) But again,  a cost analysis is in order...

> Me, I like airships.  There are uses for small Blimps, using the one thing
> an airship can beat a heaver-than-air machine at:  Endurance.  But I don't
> think we'll ever see a return of the levathians.
> 
> 				   Ron Wanttaja
>
   *Grin* Me too! I like them a lot better than I like supertankers
or semi trucks! And they do have a certain grace about them...but, alas,
I agree...I don't think we'll ever see them back either...


-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center
                               ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo

 
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"...I don't know what this thing does, but it's pointing in your direction."