Originally Posted by
Tourist
The problem is that pretty much all new successes are pie in the sky stupidity until suddenly they aren't.
If that was not the case then science would not move in surges like it does.
One company/man/country does something that everybody else thought was stupid/impossible, and then everybody piles in once it works.
Think iPhone.
Think going to space.
Think aeroplanes.
p.s. Which particular law of physics does airlander conflict with?
p.p.s Can't believe I forgot the jet engine!!! It was "totally unrealistic"
none of them break the laws of physics, they are a product of continual innovation and engineering advancements.
Airships/Blimps/etc are constrained by the density of air, ie, you have to displace X M3 of air for every Y g of lift, and unless you can maintain a vacuum where the displaced air was, your then adding weight of Helium or whatever other element you use to displace the air.
Then we get to using thrust to lift (ala helicopters etc), the amount of power requires is MASSIVE, to then fantasize that this can be powered by solar is just laughable.
Back in the land of reality, this will just end up as yet another one-off white elephant without a genuine application.