From: Chris_McCoy_at_sigmanet.com
Date: 04/16/98
From: Chris_McCoy_at_sigmanet.com Message-ID: <882565E8.00630DA9.00@sweb_notes.sigmanet.com> Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 11:20:15 -0700 Subject: Re: Been kinda quiet, lately...
Airship size is only limited by the strength of structural materials.
At 1mile in diameter, you have enough lift to build a relatively strong
structure.
I have heard a few people talk about using reinforced concrete members once
a ship reaches a certain size.
Remember, once you get over a 2.5km diameter you are talking appx 25,000
tons of lift!!
If you had an airship that size, say 10km in diameter and 1km thick, you
could concievably
put a small town on it. Like a current high-rise construction. Companies
could build floating
complexes that housed thousands. If you could use standard construction
materials, you
could use many of the same craftsmen. The size would make it possible to
over-engineer, and
not worry about the payload loss.
Remember though, this is all fine and good, but you need to walk upright
before you can
fly at super-sonic speeds. We have a long way to go.
Chris
hork_at_execpc.com writes:
> > Question for the list:
> > Are there any practical limits to how much an airship can
lift?
> > I noticed in a recent ballooning attempt, that their 195'
diameter
> > helium gas bag was going to lift a 13.5 ton (27,000 lb) gondola.
> I believe some balloon can get up to 490 ft in diameter, but I am not
that
> familiar with ballooning.
airships can be built arbitrarily large.
josh