Posted 04.20.2011 at 10:20 am
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A whirring comes across the sky. From 20,000 feet above the Mexican border or Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, a vehicle as long as the Chrysler building is tall drifts into the stratosphere. It looms like a cloud and stays put for 21 days, scanning for body heat below. These blimps are lighter than air, fuel-efficient and quiet—which is why they could become the military’s go-to vehicles for surveillance and transport.
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i like how the federal government puts so much money into preventing "terrorist" from crossing the border. i mean come on, why would a terrorist go through the trouble of crossing the mexican border instead of crossing the easier canadian border? doesnt make much sense. these vehicles better have some sort of super armor.
The U.S Canadian border is the largest unporotected border in the world 5,525 miles. Before 2001 all we needed was a drivers licenece to cross into the U.S. Now we need a pastport. Why? Will a terrorist really go to a boarder crossing with customs agents? Or will they more likely cross over somewhere in Manitoba or Saskatchewan where there is no fence and no one around to witness? When fear trumps common sense we're all in trouble.
::huge grin:: Now we're talking my area of interest! Wish Pop-Sci would allow me to do a major write up on Airships of the Future. There are some very awesome designs in the work that will help bring airships back into being something other than a way to watch sports events or floating advertisement signs.
Does no one else find "the Mexican border or Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley" strange?
What if it gets shot? Most of the time, Mexican border crossers are carrying AK-47s.
@Navy1270, a rifle bullet can't shoot more than a mile or so straight up before it falls back to earth. A blimp hovering 4 miles up is safe from everything except military-grade weapons like rockets and missiles.
You guys are idiots.
Airships are, without a doubt, the future of transportation for freight. Our airships haul freight with the lowest per-ton mile costs of any other mode, without leaving a carbon footprint. There have been some impressive innovative technological advancements in recent years that make airships even more viable for several different industries. Imagine taking a tour of the amazon hovering just above the trees on a virtually silent ship. Imagine being able to skydive every weekend if you wish because the cost is just a few bucks. The applications are vast and we are proud to be working in this game.