As you all saw fit to squash my narrowboat proposition for a transport network, :), then how about dirigibles? Here's the situation on the commercial variety.
Anyway, I wasn't really thinking of the large, commercial variety nor even about these beauties but more about PMDs [personal mini dirigibles], designed to take two people.
Let's say you had to get to Kings Lynn for an interview or meeting. It's out to the back garden, turn on the heater, load the briefcase into the cupboard and away you go. No M25, no long queues, just a bit of bumping into thoughtless amateur pilots along the way.
What a restful way to go. And if you were worried about the cold, you'd be fully enclosed, wouldn't you? Here are its practical possibilities. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty - are they possible and how to construct your baby. Here is another page on a personal dirigible.
I don't see the problem. Modern sailboats and ultra-lights already employ the desired materials for strength and lightness plus the propulsion mechanism. Helium appears to be out because of its $6.60 per litre cost, so you'd need around 1000 cubic metres for the hot air variety for two people.
Once you get to the city, tether and deflate in the park-and-ride-area then take the hover bus into town. Yep, the days of the Airdinghy are just around the corner. Anyone care to go into business with me?
Anyway, I wasn't really thinking of the large, commercial variety nor even about these beauties but more about PMDs [personal mini dirigibles], designed to take two people.
Let's say you had to get to Kings Lynn for an interview or meeting. It's out to the back garden, turn on the heater, load the briefcase into the cupboard and away you go. No M25, no long queues, just a bit of bumping into thoughtless amateur pilots along the way.
What a restful way to go. And if you were worried about the cold, you'd be fully enclosed, wouldn't you? Here are its practical possibilities. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty - are they possible and how to construct your baby. Here is another page on a personal dirigible.
I don't see the problem. Modern sailboats and ultra-lights already employ the desired materials for strength and lightness plus the propulsion mechanism. Helium appears to be out because of its $6.60 per litre cost, so you'd need around 1000 cubic metres for the hot air variety for two people.
Once you get to the city, tether and deflate in the park-and-ride-area then take the hover bus into town. Yep, the days of the Airdinghy are just around the corner. Anyone care to go into business with me?
That's an incredibly creative and interesting idea. THis posst truly made me elaugh James.
ReplyDeleteIt would reduce the knife , youth culture here , as the undesirables would be all walking around with big pins!
And what about people who are afraid of heights?
I'm curious to know how one would steer it in the right direction?
James -- if only we lived in your world.
ReplyDeleteMen would be men; they'd have fine moustaches; and smoke wonderful pipes.
I love this idea! It would never take off (!) though - Health & Safety would never allow it. Shame.
ReplyDeleteLOL at Rob's comment :-)
ReplyDelete"transport network"? I keep telling you all - we should just freeze all our rivers and canals and then we can all skate to work.
ReplyDeleteUber - people who were afraid of heights could be sedated first or go by narrow boat.
ReplyDeleteRob - yes, I yearn for a return to those days.
Dragonstar - we'd fly above those pesky regulations.
Cherie - you're chief flight officer.
Yes, yes, dearieme - more words of wisdom!!
James
ReplyDeleteI squashed the canal-boat idea and now I'm going to squash this one.
Where will one get the hot air because you can't be everywhere. :-)
Just pipe the hot air in from Westminster.
ReplyDeleteAs for this as a mode of transportation haven't you forgotten about the crap weather in your part of the world.
Creative solution however.
Calum - tut, tut.
ReplyDeleteColin - that's probably the answer.
A flight of fancy?
ReplyDeleteThe figure for the cost of helium is wrong. It is true that LIQUID helium costs 6.60 us dollars per liter, but that would expand enormously on becoming a gas.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you would buy pressurized gas and it is very cheap. A PMD of reasonable size would set you back maybe a grand.
Now that's interesting. I could only go on my source for cost.
ReplyDelete