If you watch just about any movie or TV series, or read any book where the Nazis one in World War 2 is historical fact, then you will most likely have seen an airship! They seem to be the stuff alternate timelines are made of, with movies like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and books like Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials both preferring airships, zeppelins or dirigible to your good old fashioned plane.
So in a carbon conscious world where doing something for the environment is the big craze, it makes sense that airships are once again being talked about.
Sadly though, for the moment, airships are most normally seen emblazoned with advertising, such as the Good Year Blimp. And though there are occasions where the good old fashioned airship might be viewed as a step forward, will it ever make a comeback?
The writers over at EcoGeek have long been on the airship bandwagon, and have celebrated by showcasing their three favorites. They are airships that, they believe, will have a good chance at changing the lack of passenger transport.
The Aeroscraft, the SkyCat and the SkyFreighter are their three favorites. My favorite of theirs though, is the SkyCat, and not just for its reference to my favorite furry friends. No, SkyCat are looking at an actual business plan that has benefits for everyone. They hope to step in to the shipping market, to provide shipping that comes in between the high priced high speed delivery, and the low cost but much slower ground delivery.
In addition, they’ve already run a test run of their mockup, the SkyKitten. Working at 1/6th scale, the SkyKitten has been produced and flown by remote control to great success. Thus, their first prototype airship, the SkyCat 20, is already under construction.
The obvious benefits of a vessel that doesn’t require huge amounts of fossil fuel to get it off the ground are enormous. And in a day and age where entrepreneurial endeavors are oft taking the green route – to fulfill both financial and green criteria – we can’t be far away from the day when airships make their return to the skies.
EcogeekJoshua Hill, a Geek’s-Geek from Melbourne, Australia, Josh is an aspiring author with dreams of publishing his epic fantasy, currently in the works, sometime in the next 5 years. A techie, nerd, sci-fi nut and bookworm.
