Comments on: The Real Lead Zeppelins http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 09:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: PaulR http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-524050 PaulR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-524050 Mythbusters Lead Balloon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSkM-QEeUg Mythbusters Lead Balloon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSkM-QEeUg

]]> By: Daemon http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-523543 Daemon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523543 The Great and Powerful Turtle! The Great and Powerful Turtle!

]]> By: Irv Arons http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-523565 Irv Arons Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523565 Thank you for linking to my ADL Chronicles and my posting on the Arthur D. Little silk purse made from sows ears and our lead balloon flyoff. I was a member of one of the teams that constructed and flew the three lead balloons in May of 1977. For the complete story, see my blog, ADL Chronicles: http://adlittlechronicles.blogspot.com Regards, Irv Arons Thank you for linking to my ADL Chronicles and my posting on the Arthur D. Little silk purse made from sows ears and our lead balloon flyoff.

I was a member of one of the teams that constructed and flew the three lead balloons in May of 1977.

For the complete story, see my blog, ADL Chronicles: http://adlittlechronicles.blogspot.com

Regards,

Irv Arons

]]> By: Ultan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-524113 Ultan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-524113 For some reason this reminds me of the <a href="http://www.flyingkettle.com/">steam dirigible</a> idea, not a steampunk fantasy but rather a serious proposal to use steam as the lifting gas. This lets you turn ballast into lift gas using the waste heat of a steam engine, that is, using the envelope of the airship as the condenser of the engine, thus eliminating by far the heaviest part of the steam engine, making it light enough for aeronautical use. Steam gives about 60% of the lift per volume of Helium and twice the lift of hot air. (100C steam in STP air = 6.26 N/m^3) The envelope can be insulated to retain heat seven times longer than a bare envelope (200g vs. 1400g condensate per m^2 per hour) at a modest weight penalty of 200g /m^2 (a bit more than the bare envelope + condensation weight of 185g/m^2). For some reason this reminds me of the steam dirigible idea, not a steampunk fantasy but rather a serious proposal to use steam as the lifting gas. This lets you turn ballast into lift gas using the waste heat of a steam engine, that is, using the envelope of the airship as the condenser of the engine, thus eliminating by far the heaviest part of the steam engine, making it light enough for aeronautical use.

Steam gives about 60% of the lift per volume of Helium and twice the lift of hot air. (100C steam in STP air = 6.26 N/m^3) The envelope can be insulated to retain heat seven times longer than a bare envelope (200g vs. 1400g condensate per m^2 per hour) at a modest weight penalty of 200g /m^2 (a bit more than the bare envelope + condensation weight of 185g/m^2).

]]> By: InsertFingerHere http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-524124 InsertFingerHere Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-524124 "gambol about the Earth's surface with great danger to life and limb of the human race, as well as terror to animal creation generally". "And with that gentleman, let us recess to the parlour, I've acquired two mummiest, their unwrapping should be most entertaining. “gambol about the Earth’s surface with great danger to life and limb of the human race, as well as terror to animal creation generally”.

“And with that gentleman, let us recess to the parlour, I’ve acquired two mummiest, their unwrapping should be most entertaining.

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-523869 Gilbert Wham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523869 <blockquote>it might "gambol about the Earth's surface with great danger to life and limb of the human race, as well as terror to animal creation generally".</blockquote> God, I hope so.

it might “gambol about the Earth’s surface with great danger to life and limb of the human race, as well as terror to animal creation generally”.

God, I hope so.

]]> By: igm http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-523894 igm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523894 I've seen pictures of glass balloons. Glass can be drawn/blown pretty much infinitely thin, and these blown balloons were filled with helium and sealed, and yes, they floated. Ideally, a balloon would be filled with nothing, i.e. a vacuum. Where is the structure that can resist 1 atmosphere and still be light enough? Doesn't exist yet. Gold leaf can be beaten very thin. Wonder if you could assemble a small hot air balloon out of them? That would be snazzy. Fill it w/hot air, then hang a tiny candle or other flame under it, and off it goes... I’ve seen pictures of glass balloons. Glass can be drawn/blown pretty much infinitely thin, and these blown balloons were filled with helium and sealed, and yes, they floated.

Ideally, a balloon would be filled with nothing, i.e. a vacuum. Where is the structure that can resist 1 atmosphere and still be light enough? Doesn’t exist yet.

Gold leaf can be beaten very thin. Wonder if you could assemble a small hot air balloon out of them? That would be snazzy. Fill it w/hot air, then hang a tiny candle or other flame under it, and off it goes…

]]> By: Turtle Airships http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-524744 Turtle Airships Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-524744 Thank you for mentioning the "turtle" airship. This is Darrell Campbell, CEO of Turtle Airships. Our company is 28 years old now, we are firmly committed to creating a global airship industry. Our goal is to field SOLAR POWERED, fast, amphibious, rigid shelled airships. (your note about the successfull ZMC-2 was particularly pleasing) That same success then, with aluminum metal airships; can be re-done, using the much stronger materials of todays' technology. Turtle Airships will create "flying cruise ships". Passengers on board Turtle Airships will enjoy private staterooms with showers, dancing on board, good "sit down" restaurants, etc. Using Solar Power and bio-diesel jet engines, the airships will greatly reduce the carbon emissions that current jets leave in the atmosphere. It's our way of helping to create a better world! http://www.turtleairships.com Thank you for mentioning the “turtle” airship.
This is Darrell Campbell, CEO of Turtle Airships.
Our company is 28 years old now, we are firmly committed to creating a global airship industry. Our goal is to field SOLAR POWERED, fast, amphibious, rigid shelled airships. (your note about the successfull ZMC-2 was particularly pleasing) That same success then, with aluminum metal airships; can be re-done, using the much stronger materials of todays’ technology.

Turtle Airships will create “flying cruise ships”. Passengers on board Turtle Airships will enjoy private staterooms with showers, dancing on board, good “sit down” restaurants, etc.

Using Solar Power and bio-diesel jet engines, the airships will greatly reduce the carbon emissions that current jets leave in the atmosphere. It’s our way of helping to create a better world!

http://www.turtleairships.com

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/22/the-real-lead-zeppel.html#comment-523734 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-523734 In Ben Franklins autobiography there is a bunch of really cool history about Ben Franklins part in creating the first balloon flights in France... In Ben Franklins autobiography there is a bunch of really cool history about Ben Franklins part in creating the first balloon flights in France…

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