Blimp Flight 001

Blimps are much more than just hot air, they're potentially the new freight carriers for commodities (and perhaps even people) around the world.

Sir David King, former Chief Scientific advisor to the government, has said that massive helium balloons, like blimps, would replace aircraft as a key part of the global trade network as a way of cutting global warming emissions.

The timescale he suggested was within the next decade. That's pretty wild.

Aside from the airships emitting less carbon and can hold many times more amount of freight than a Boeing 747, another benefit is the possibility that airships would not need to use airports if they were fitted with "lifts" to sort out picking up and dropping off cargo.

NASA, working alongside E- Green Technologies have been tinkering with using airships to measure moisture content in soil. They've come up with this 235-foot-long, 65-foot-diameter airship, named the Bullet 580.

Are blimps going to be the next (revived) innovation in air travel? Maybe air cargo but I'm not convinced about its people carrying abilities.

Ps- Airships not your cup of tea? That's ok, staying grounded is still a great alternative.

(Spotted in the Guardian)

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