More pictures and a fun little website touting the future of air travel at Aeroscraft.
Quick write up at SonyRadio. Excerpt:
It's the Aero craft, 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 staterooms Unlike its dirigible ancestors, the Aero craft is not lighter than air It's 14 million cubic feet of helium hoist only two-thirds of the craft's weight. The rigid and surprisingly aerodynamic body, driven by huge rear-ward propellers, generates enough additional lift to keep the behemoth and its 400-ton payload aloft while cruising During takeoff and landing, six turbo-fan jet engines push the ship up or ease its descent. This two-football-fields-long 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, wit h an estimated top speed of 174 mph, could traverse the continental United States in about 18 hours. During the flight, passengers would view 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.
What do I think?:
14 comments:
cue "oh, the humanity"
Not nearly as cool as the T-birds ship.
Seems like the A380 and this monster are new Hindenbergs waiting to happen, if only as prime terrorist targets.
It looks like that mega cruise ship. I bet it can't go to San Francisco in 3 hours.
"Thunderbirds are go."
Loved that show. My son watches it on DVD now and I get a kick from hearing the Limeys do American military accents.
BTW, since the Aeroscraft will cruise at 8000 feet it won't be very practical. Weather and all.
this looks like a post-cap'n'trade carbon haters wet dream.
That thing looks like the "Super Guppy" planes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Super_Guppy
Belatedly, is there a FIRST class?
So Rob - what are your thoughts on the bond market right now? How about bond funds in general? I'm not liking the stock market at the moment.
Anyone else have thoughts on either topic?
The bond market is incredibly dangerous. You can lose 15% of your value in a week when interest rates bump only a little bit. You value is in the hands of the Fed. No thanks.
I'm very much out of bonds. I don't even have any in my 401k, nor do I own any mutual funds with substantial holdings (in $US bonds anyway.) I'm actually short US fed bonds, a dangerous move say some of my friends in the investment industry (who follow their company line in their advice).
But if the Fed raises rates and long term rate rises follow, all those medium and long term bonds their funds hare holding now will take real value pounding. It's not worth it to me, given the interest rates on offer now.
And like Dawg says, the value is in the Fed's hands. I don't like having much of my money sitting at the whim of 12 insiders, several of whom already think interest rates will need to be jacked up.
From the main post:
"the cavernous interior would easily accommodate such amenities as luxury staterooms, restaurants - - even a casino"
Uh, haven't I header that before? I think it is said about every new super-sized jetliner that comes off plan.
And then when it actually comes off the line, it's jammed full of nothing but row upon row of 17-inch-wide seats.
One of the floor plans includes a full-size olympic swimming pool, a bowling ally, and a shooting range.
True.
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