My apologies A squared, we may have been having a UK ton vs US ton issue.
20000lbs, just about squeeks in though brave pilot to ditch a 5% thrust margin in the mountains.
Go in at 5000, lets call it 30C, and we need OGE for underslung.
So, what have we discovered?
That later developed and enormously upgraded models of one of the most impressive helicopters ever made can just about hold their own against the first sub scale prototype of a new airship over very short distances?
Not really a strong argument against the airship so far.
You query whether it will meet it's claims.
This is an argument that can be applied to any aircraft before it has been proven.
"Harrier. I don't believe it will hover therefore it will be useless" etc
To claim it is useless and has no killer application because you don't believe that it will achieve it's stated performance is very different from saying that you don't believe that even if it achieves it's stated performance aims it will have an application.
Which is it?
You seem to be pursuing both paths.