Jed sez: ...
> > I like to get up, stroll around, buy a cuppa java, look > out the window and see something . . . The fast trains > in France and Japan are great. If I could go all the way > to Japan (6870) by fast train in 19 hours, I would never > take a 14-hour flight. It is a shame they cannot make > trains run on water. > > What I would really like to experience is a flight > on a Zeppelin. > > - Jed So would I. Not all that long ago I saw a wonderful article (I think it was published in either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics) on the conceptual design of a heavier than air "zeppelin" using 21st century state of the art technology. I think it was powered by a combination of solar cells and rechargeable batteries powering a series of electric props positioned along the sides. (Come to think of it, with NanoSolar's "printed" flexible solar film technology just around the corner, I think it's an even better bet.) It looked like a very FAT blimp filled with helium. The beauty of the concept was that when you cut the power it would simply float back to the ground, or body of water for that matter. Only when the electric props were actively engaged would there be enough air lift to get it off the ground - and on to infinity! The conceptual images indicated to me that there would be sufficient passenger space (particularly on the observational deck) to make one feel as if they were strolling about on a cruse ship. What a view! Think "The Fifth Element" and you get the picture. No warp drives, however, at least not in the current model. I think it cruses at around 100 - 150 MPH. I suspect the only thing holding them back are the old unjustified Hindenburg fears. The only concern I would personally harbor would be how it would negotiate its substantial girth through nasty cold fronts and other bad weather. Regardless, I'd love to see them frolicking above. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
