Up, Up and Away: Building an Airship House
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9 Comments:
"having every hope of completion within very near future"
Not if it uses helium.
This has always been one of my greatest hopes to build. Can't wait to see the finished product
Just about the silliest idea I have ever seen for more reasons than I am wsilling to type.
There is still helium around. But anything that uses helium for lift can also use hydrogen. It's a matter of preference and/or regulations. As far as it being silly, why would his project have to fit any ones sensibilities other then his own? If every one stuck to doing only the things others felt were sensible, this would be a sad and boring world, IMHO. Best of luck with the project.
This design is unworkable for several reasons.
First off, did anyone do any lift calculations? It'd be difficult with such absurdly convoluted gas bags. In any event, I don't think that there'd be enough lift there to get that house off of the ground.
Second, expanding on the gas envelopes, the long shape and awkward curves would necessitate an internal framework. This would serve to increase the weight of the structure past any chance of viability.
Third. Look at the bracing. There appears to be a single solid brace between the two envelopes, above the rear end of the 'house'. There are, however, support cables running from points all along the envelopes down to the house. These would tend to pull the envelopes together and, without any bracing between them, they would collide, deform, and probably rupture.
Fourth. What the heck happens to this mess in any sort of inclement weather? They give no details on the engines (more on that in a second), but I doubt that this flying laundry rack could make 25mph. You're certainly not avoiding any storms at that speed.
Finally. Power. These drawings show a series of fans along the bottom of the hulls. What powers them? Electric? Holy crap, how big are your batteries? Gas? Again; massive, heavy internal framework or those crazy gasbags get shaken apart.
It seems like every architect and 'designer' out there feels the need to, at some point, take a crack at working up an airship. I wish I could say that this was the worst one out there. Sadly, it's not even close.
PS: SWIMMING POOL?! WATER. WEIGHS. EIGHT. BLOODY. POUNDS. TO. THE. GALLON! So, tiny 1,000 gallon pool (roughly a 5x5x5 ft cube) would require more than 128000 cubic feet of helium to lift just it. That's a sphere roughly 63ft across. JUST FOR THE POOL.
Awesome comment Sean. I will pass this along.
Sean I fully agree with everything you say. After fifty years in my own profession I have seen some of the worst unworkable designs put on paper by architects and designers. Many have little knowledge of the areas they propose putting their ideas into.
I agree that the pool is silly, but I could see a lot of carbon fiber making up the internal framework, which would allow for weight savings. That said, the gasbags would need to be a lot bigger than they're shown in the images. Still, it's a cool concept.
Not too long ago they said "its silly to think a man can go in the air" now it is one of the main ways of traveling. In my opinion, this concept, and some more scientific progress could lead to beautiful things. Absolutely doable :)
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