PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - AirLander take off then 2nd Flight Mishap
Old 23rd Aug 2016, 02:13
  #135 (permalink)  
172driver
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
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OK, so let’s have a look at the potential uses for this thing.

1) tourist trips over remote / noise sensitive areas (Serengeti, Grand Canyon)
Fine, but already exists in the form of hot air balloons. Might work well for extended ‘air cruises’, though. Could be great for that.

2) delivery of relief supplies to conflict / disaster zones.
I have no idea if the hull of Airlander can withstand AK47 bullets, but having worked in aforementioned zones for years, I know that it would make a great target for some crazed kid with an AK. Better rule that one - largely - out.

3) delivery of heavy/outsize equipment to remote locations.
This one might work, although many / most remote locations also experience inclement wx to which this machine seems to be quite vulnerable.

4) military
Sure, there will be some use, but as stated above, the thing appears to be very, very vulnerable.

5) SAR in remote areas (MH370 anyone?)
Could work, although again not so sure about the wx effects

I’m not trying to slag it off, but if you leave the engineering feat aside, the potential uses appear rather limited. Not saying it’s not viable, but I can see this filling a niche in the AN 225 kind of way. We’ll see.
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