The world's largest aircraft breaks cover in Silicon Valley | TechCrunch
techcrunch.com
As dawn breaks over Silicon Valley, the world is getting its first look at Pathfinder 1, a prototype electric airship that its maker LTA Research hopes

The world’s largest aircraft breaks cover in Silicon Valley::As dawn breaks over Silicon Valley, the world is getting its first look at Pathfinder 1, a prototype electric airship that its maker LTA Research hopes

  • jasory@programming.devEnglish
    73·
    1 year ago

    I concur. This is really fucking stupid. The only actual advantage that airships have is loitering time, and solar aeroplanes can already loiter for months albeit with a small payload.

    If you really care about the environment, make it an unmanned post and use more efficient (because it’s lighter) and abundant hydrogen. Chance of explosion is pretty low, and if it does who cares.

    • DrRatso@lemmy.mlEnglish
      81·
      1 year ago

      Afaik they want to use hydrogen, it is actually pretty safe with modern understanding, but regulations make it hard to pursue.

      • ekky43@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        Right? I’m embarrassed that we still think hydrogen to be more dangerous than gasoline and other fossil fuels.

        I mean, hydrogen is dangerous, as are most things, but it likely won’t ever kill 5~10 million people per year from pollution alone.

        And regarding airships, hydrogen doesn’t just explode as some like to think, and won’t just plummet In case of fire if sealed in multiple metallic and flame resistant compartments like in modern airships, at least not without a freak accident.