The future of flight

[soulflower]

It looks like a cross between a blimp and a spaceship

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/a-gia...5lNNvHOvg.html

[WKDWZD]

It looks like a cross between a blimp and a spaceship

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/a-gia...5lNNvHOvg.html

If they ever get it to be powered by solar energy maybe, in it's current form it's far too slow for anything other than short to middle distance work, IMO.

[dogstarman]

The key thing is fuel consumption per passenger or unit of cargo. If oil prices shoot through the roof (and they will eventually) this type of transport will become very very attractive.

[WKDWZD]

The key thing is fuel consumption per passenger or unit of cargo. If oil prices shoot through the roof (and they will eventually) this type of transport will become very very attractive.

When that day comes, bicycles will become very attractive.

[flyboy56]

If they ever get it to be powered by solar energy maybe, in it's current form it's far too slow for anything other than short to middle distance work, IMO.

At 130mph it moves faster than any surface cargo ship.

[SteamChief]

It looks like a cross between a blimp and a spaceship

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/a-gia...5lNNvHOvg.html

If there is a commercial market, and there is, for cheaper ways to move cargo fast we will eventually see something. But first the development costs need to be paid for by someones government.
Just about every major modern development has been driven by the needs of the military. Modern aviation was driven by the needs of the military. Modern medicine was driven by the military to save the lives of those hurt. Modern computer technology was driven by the military to put spy satellites up and watch the other guys.

[SteamChief]

At 130mph it moves faster than any surface cargo ship.

Even at 250 tons of cargo it would have to make 100 trips across the pond to carry what a medium size container ship could. This is not competing with a ship, cost per mile per ton of cargo will never get close to a ship.
10,000 TEU's mean 10,000 20 foot 20 ton containers. 10K TEU's is a big ship but not the biggest, read more in the article.
http://gcaptain.com/seaspan-orders-f...ontainerships/

This will be a "next day" or "2 day" package mover for UPS or Fedex for overseas ops. Give high priced electronics makers an alternative lower cost method of delivering the goods quickly.