PDA

You are viewing a trimmed-down version of the SkyscraperPage.com discussion forum.  For the full version follow the link below.

View Full Version : Futuristic 'airships' planned for North



M II A II R II K
Aug 30, 2011, 1:37 PM
Futuristic 'airships' planned for North


Aug 26, 2011

http://www.cbc.ca/favicon.ico

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/08/26/nwt-discovery-airship.html

Website: http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/

A British manufacturer hopes to build a fleet of airships for Yellowknife’s Discovery Air to supply remote communities and enterprises in the North, the two companies say. The futuristic giant blimps from Hybrid Air Vehicles would cost $40 million each, Discovery Air Innovations, a Quebec-based subsidiary of Discovery Air, announced after signing a tentative deal with HAV. The aircraft use a mix of non-flammable helium and air power to fly and can land on almost any surface, HAV says on its website. They'll be able to carry up to 50 tonnes of cargo to mining camps and remote communities, HAV says.

- Stuart Russell, the vice-president of a Yellowknife mining logistics company, suggests northern transportation is a challenge just waiting for solutions. "It's a huge logistical challenge when the ice roads fail,” he told CBC News. “In the High Arctic, there's lots of opportunity for oil and gas extraction but we have to find a way to do it. The airship may be one solution." Hybrid Air Vehicles and Discovery Air Innovations are working together to design the airship for the North and get it through the certification process.

- HAV says technological improvements have allowed for an airship much better than the original concept. "With a cargo capacity of 50 tonnes at speeds up to [185 km/h], we believe this capability will enable economic development of remote, stranded resources with a low environmental impact," HAV said on its website.

.....




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAyJ3zKTus

Calgarian
Aug 30, 2011, 2:02 PM
Interesting idea, but can it handle -50?

MonctonRad
Aug 30, 2011, 2:54 PM
I am a big proponent of airships but there is a big problem on the horizon....

There will soon be a worldwide shortage of helium. It's a product of natural radioactive decay within the Earth's crust and there are only a limited few natural deposits (the big one is in Texas I believe).

Once released into the atmosphere, helium is so light that it escapes into the stratosphere and ultimately gets lost to space. Once lost, it is gone forever.

The demand for helium has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades (it's used to cool superconducting magnets in MRI machines and also for party balloons, which believe it or not is a major consumer of this valuable resource).

I think helium party balloons should be banned immediately!!! :yes:

MolsonExport
Aug 30, 2011, 3:58 PM
Just bring back the hydrogen zeppelins of old. Most abundant element in nature. wait a minute...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Hindenburg_burning.jpg
wikimedia

DizzyEdge
Aug 30, 2011, 4:24 PM
How would these things handle arctic winds?

kool maudit
Aug 30, 2011, 4:34 PM
now we shall build an 80 story tower in montreal, from whose spire these things will launch.

we shall call her "la reine du nord," and upon her flanks we will project coloured lights based on what holiday it is.

SHOFEAR
Aug 30, 2011, 4:39 PM
/\ Edmonton has you beat

I suppose the hideous mooring mast on Epcor makes sense now...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/EpcorTowerComplete.jpg/800px-EpcorTowerComplete.jpg

source wikipedia

lake of the nations
Aug 30, 2011, 5:19 PM
now we shall build an 80 story tower in montreal, from whose spire these things will launch.

we shall call her "la reine du nord," and upon her flanks we will project coloured lights based on what holiday it is.

It should be called the ''Empire Province Building''.

Airboy
Aug 30, 2011, 5:33 PM
Here's another article.

I am another voice with concerns for the winds. The winds across the tundra can be like Pincher Creek winds on Steriods.

However this plan is not new, I actually think this is the 3 or 4th plan for the northern airship. The last one was a Canadian firm.


http://upherebusiness.tumblr.com/

M II A II R II K
Aug 30, 2011, 5:52 PM
They must have taken these things into consideration.

DizzyEdge
Aug 30, 2011, 10:01 PM
It should be called the ''Empire Province Building''.

"Belle Province Building"

Or perhaps "Immeuble de la Belle Province" ? My French sucks.



Forums Directory