Are Airships Making a Comeback for Cargo Transport?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the potential resurgence of airships, specifically Zeppelins, for cargo transport. Participants explore various aspects including efficiency, environmental impact, construction costs, operational expenses, and the load characteristics of lighter-than-air vessels. The conversation also touches on historical challenges faced by airships in the cargo transport sector.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the environmental benefits and potential cost savings of airships for cargo transport, but express uncertainty about their load characteristics.
  • Others argue that airships are slow and require large sizes to carry significant weight, questioning their overall efficiency.
  • A participant mentions the heavy lifter airship concept, highlighting that previous designs have not addressed fundamental issues that led to the decline of dirigibles, such as operational limitations in adverse weather.
  • There is a reference to the Cargolifter project, which aimed to utilize a keel for structural support to enhance load capacity, but concerns remain about the feasibility of such designs.
  • Another participant suggests that airships may only be viable in fair weather conditions, raising doubts about their control in windy situations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the viability of airships for cargo transport. Some acknowledge potential benefits while others emphasize significant limitations and challenges that remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to the operational environment of airships, including their performance in adverse weather conditions and the historical context of their decline in use.

Jim M
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Has anyone seen the recent new in the last couple of years about the comeback potential of the Zeppelins or Airships?
There seems to be a good argument about the efficiency of these ships in regards to cargo transport.
I can see the environmental impact and perhaps the construction costs and operational expense benefits, but I’m still wrapping my mind around the load characteristics of lighter than air vessels carrying bulk cargo.
Has anyone had any experience in this area? What are the restrictions or limitations that are preventing them now?
 
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Well, they are slow and have to be enormous to carry much weight. And I'm not sure they really are very efficient.
 
They heavy lifter airship (I can't remember the name) has been brought up a few times. The plans to date all look very nice but all seem to miss the basic points that made dirigibles extinct in the first place. I believe one of them is looking at severely limiting its operating area to make the most of calm weather. The now deceased Cargolifter was going to use a keel as it's main structural member which I assume allowed them to advertise such large load capacities.

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/cargolifter/

http://www.deagel.com/library/SkyHook-JHL-40-Heavy-Lift-Rotorcraft_m02008070800005.aspx
 
Last edited by a moderator:
FredGarvin said:
They heavy lifter airship (I can't remember the name) has been brought up a few times. The plans to date all look very nice but all seem to miss the basic points that made dirigibles extinct in the first place. I believe one of them is looking at severely limiting its operating area to make the most of calm weather. The now deceased Cargolifter was going to use a keel as it's main structural member which I assume allowed them to advertise such large load capacities.

http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/cargolifter/

http://www.deagel.com/library/SkyHook-JHL-40-Heavy-Lift-Rotorcraft_m02008070800005.aspx

That was one of my thoughts, that these were fair weather only ships. I don't think they have resolved that problem since it is fairly inherint to the concept of lighter than air designs. I would think that even a strong wind would extremely limit the control of an Airship.
 

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