Airships

[FeyLenne13]

A group and I have been discussing how this world would be like if it were more like the Final Fantasy series. One of things i thought would be fun to talk about is how to make an actual airship with today's tech. Not a hot air balloon or that thing that starts with the letter d that I can't spell right now. There are some very smart and creative people on this site so I figure if anyone could come up with something, it would be us

[che]

You mean like airplanes? Or blimps?

[FeyLenne13]

No more like the airships from the game. Kinda like a boat for the sky where you can be out on the deck. I know they could go very high or very fast but they'd be more controlable than hot air balloons. Something also more friendly and acceptable to the planet too maybe.

[che]

So like a helicopter, which can fly but doesn't need to have the velocity of a plane, but allow you to just stand around sipping wine? But it has to be enjoyable (that would be loud as ****). How would someone just be standing around without safety issues (balance), and most importantly, without spilling the wine?!

[FeyLenne13]

Good point, stablity would be key. I guess an airship would be more like a bigger balloon with a boat or something attached to it at the bottom than anything. With a fan or propellor at the back to direct where you wanted to go.

[che]

Now I feel like we're bottlenecking our creativity. We gotta think of something that is like a cruise ship that flies, minus the loudness of engines or propellers, and doesn't fly as fast as a plane so you can stand on it without being strapped in. Because I hate being tied down, unless it's in a bed. I might go for that. Balloons are cool and all, and not quite as loud, but **** a giant balloon over your head is a little awkward don't you think?

[FeyLenne13]

You're right. gotta think outside the box. Lol honestly i was waiting for you to call me crazy my bad. A giant balloon would be awkward. Sails aren't efficient enough for lift. What could work like a propellor but be quieter? Lol that new fan Dyson made? We need to be able to move around the airship without fear that we would fall over and without being strapped in. Strapped in ruins the purpose of the airship.

[Yoko]

Sails aren't efficient enough for lift.

They aren't? If you maneuver the sail right, it can create lift if the wind is right. Hence why kites can fly.

Anyway, the Q400 series from Bombardier is the quietest prop out there. It isn't actually classified as a prop. It's a Turbo Prob, and even then it's still pretty loud.

Jets are also loud, but I love the sound. In order to make them quieter, you would need to think on a bigger scale. Electric maybe? That would need one hell of a battery though, so that might cancel itself out right there. Hrrrrm.

I totally love the idea of an airship though. Good thread

[Trodorne]

Best thing you could do is find some way to create a strong magnetic field beneath your "Airship" and then use the winds to propel the ship forward. You would not be able to move anywhere without the wind and balance of the ship is important enough so the whole thing does not flip at the altitude of 1500 feet.

What would be a bonus is get a cold fusion generator to power the electro magnetic generators that way you can completely control your height variance in the skies.

[FeyLenne13]

I don't know, magnetic fields can be hard on the body. Some people with migraines can't be around strong magnetic fields without getting a splitting headache. Could you explain cold fusion to me?

[midgetbob]

I think we just need Floston Paradise (5th Element; woo woo) up in this bia...



Minus being blown up... 'cause that'd suck. If big enough, the noise wouldn't be a factor, because it could be shielded out.

[Yoko]

SHIELDS!!!!

That's a genius idea!! The question is, how do we make them?

[FeyLenne13]

Back to the sails, would solar sails be enough to cancel out the battery issue or would we still need more juice? And the prop you mentioned, Kyra, does that mean there are propellors out there that are relatively quiet?

What kind of shield are we talking about? If we could figure out exactly what its function is then maybe that would put us on the right path to bringing it to life. I'm gonna do some research on it.

[Yoko]

Back to the sails, would solar sails be enough to cancel out the battery issue or would we still need more juice?

Possibly. Considering that the solar panels don't weigh down the aircraft.

And the prop you mentioned, Kyra, does that mean there are propellors out there that are relatively quiet?

Compared to a regular prop, yes. The Q400 also has noise cancellation methods in the fuselage. I don't really want to get into that right now because I don't really understand it myself.

What kind of shield are we talking about? If we could figure out exactly what its function is then maybe that would put us on the right path to bringing it to life. I'm gonna do some research on it.

Essentially, something with noise cancellation capabilities. Probably something completely out of this world at this point in time. I think we're getting back onto the topic of magnetic fields with this one.

[FeyLenne13]

your right i think we are getting back around to magnetic fields again.

[FeyLenne13]

I keep coming back to it but what about propellors? You see them everywhere the airships are involved and yeah, I know that's a game but still it has to have some merit in reality.