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Large, Slow Airships Could Move Buildings
Algorithmnast writes "The Economist has a short article on using big, slow-moving airships to move large objects without the need to dismantle them. The company mentioned, Skylifter, refers to the lifting ship as an 'aerial crane,' not a Thor weapon. It could easily help move research labs to new parts of the Antarctic, or allow a Solar Tower to be inserted into an area that's difficult to drive to, such as a mesa in New Mexico."
Because I know a very well educated coyote that would be really interested in this sort of innovative technology with his work in high speed pest control.
Ease back on the LSD there friend. Ease back.
And I thought local builders were relatively safe from outsourcing. Now it seems like China has a way to take another industry...
It was super sad when that dude's wife died. The talking dog was funny though. Wait, what?
That or the owner's pissed off sister is coming back to reclaim her shoes.
"People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
"to lift 1000 grams (1 kg), you need about 163 grams (~0.16 kg) of helium"
150 tons = 150,000 kg
150,000 * 163 = 24,450,000 grams of helium needed
24,450,000 grams of helium = 137,000 cubic meters
"A billion cubic metres - or about half of the world's reserves"
2 billion / 137,000 = 14,598.5
14,598.5 airships before we run out of the current reserves. I think we're good. (Except for that last half airship, it'll be kinda screwed.)
But what happens when they ...run into the building?
Did anybody think of that?
No, you're just waaaaaaaaay smarter than the large group of people in this liability-happy society working on this project. What's it like being a highly sought after engineer?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
Remember Cargo Lifter?
One of the most spectacular failures during the wild technology startup stampede a decade ago in Germany. They burned several hundred millions before folding.
The only remaining legacy is a huge indoor pool in their former airship hangar...