Old Airlift Vehicle Concept Made New

starexplorer writes "LiveScience is reporting on an early conceptual design of The Walrus the DOD's new planned 'very large airlift vehicle'." Could the concept of a 'war-balloon' really be gaining favor again?

Comments

Re:Protection Methods???

[greulich]

The Goodyear blimps come home with bullet holes all of the time. An airship is a lot more difficult to bring down than you would think.

As long as you don't coat it in rocket fuel of course... ;)

Heavy lift aircraft don't usually do combat drops

[Shivetya]

except from altitude and even then they are rarely if ever deployed in heavily contested areas. Most of the time they require large airstrips which in itself implies control over land and air of the region.

What it does offer is many possiblities for not just military operations. If these things pan out in efficiency you can bet UPS and FED Ex would want them. Let alone the possibilities of flying cruise ships!

FWIW, anything is a target for a terrorist, though preference is giving to things that don't shoot back.