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Such flights would be eco-friendly but quite lengthy. For example, a journey by airship from London to New York would take three days.
The topic of zeppelins (airships with rigid frames) has captured the attention of a team of researchers from Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. The scientists reported that there is even a company in California ready to bring the idea of an eco-friendly airship to life. If the feasibility of such air transport is proven, aircraft manufacturers will invest significant funds in its development.
Perhaps the time has truly come for a carbon-free alternative to conventional airplanes that ruthlessly destroy the planet’s ecology.
What are the advantages of a solar airship?
According to the scientific fantasies of German scientists, the emissions of the new zeppelin will be only 1-5 percent of those of a jet-fueled aircraft. The technologies that would enable the transition from it to clean energy do not yet exist. However, scientists have promised that it can be developed in the near future.
Although flights on a dirigible are longer than on a modern airplane, the new air transport vehicle will offer a significantly more comfortable experience on board. The zeppelin will feature stylish double cabins, a restaurant, and a lounge with numerous amenities. The vessel will also be well protected from bad weather. The new model is lighter than any of the previous dirigibles.
The solar airship will be able to carry between 100 and 200 passengers, depending on how far the aircraft will fly.
The zeppelin will use energy from lightweight lithium-ion batteries and the Sun. Therefore, it will not create problems for the climate.
As explained by Professor Christoph Pflaum, the head of the research team, the solar panel in the form of a film on the surface of the zeppelin will be charged at the point of departure.
In their report published in the International Journal of Sustainable, colleagues noted that airships will be a good alternative for medium and long-distance flights. Moreover, the flights will be significantly cheaper than current airline routes, the publication reported. Daily Mail .
Professor Pflaum reminded that once airships required about 100 tons of non-renewable fuel. The zeppelins of the 21st century will not need heavy and harmful fuel, as humanity is increasingly turning to environmentally friendly energy sources.
Did you know that…
The first flight in history on a steam dirigible was made in 1852 by the French engineer Henri Giffard. Just a year later, the American Solomon Andrews built the first dirigible that was lighter than air.
The first fully controlled flight of the airship La France was documented in 1884.
The first flight of a Zeppelin took place over Lake Constance in 1900. (Since then, airships with rigid frames have been called “Zeppelins” in honor of the model’s developer – German retired officer Ferdinand von Zeppelin). The LZ-1 aircraft was in the air for 18 minutes.
During World War I, zeppelins were used by the Germans, French, and Italians. However, in 1917, they were abandoned due to their unreliability.
In 1929, the German airship LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin made its first round-the-world flight with journalist Grace Marguerite on board. She became the first woman in the world to complete a round-the-world journey by air.
The largest airship ever built, the “Hindenburg,” was unveiled in Germany in 1936. The Zeppelin measured 245 meters in length and had a diameter of 41.2 meters. Its story ended in tragedy during a transatlantic flight. The craft caught fire while flying over the American state of New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of 37 passengers.
The United States used airships for military purposes during World War II and for advertising after the war.
In 1969, the American company Goodyear introduced its iconic yellow and blue airship from the Spirit series: Spirit of Innovation. The airships from this series became platforms for filming sporting events from the air and showcasing advertisements. The company retired its last airship in 2017.
