The Off Topic Topic

[Syt]

Some tremendous local news photo-journalism here
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-tree-blows-down-in-st-leonards-4371421

German local papers would have at minimum one photo of a pensioner pointing at the fallen tree.

[Tamas]

Some tremendous local news photo-journalism here
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/in-pictures-tree-blows-down-in-st-leonards-4371421

Amazing 

[celedhring]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

[Jacob]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

[Barrister]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

I have to admit I can't see the advantages to blimp travel over ships and ferries, and never mind conventional aircraft.

[celedhring]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

I have to admit I can't see the advantages to blimp travel over ships and ferries, and never mind conventional aircraft.

It's essentially a sustainability play. They claim it will have 90% less emmissions than an equivalent flight. It will take 4h vs 1h by plane or 2h by fast boat.

Now I can't see it being more than a novelty at this stage, but it's a way to test the waters (I hope just figuratively).

[Maladict]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

I've never really considered Mallorca as a destination but this would be pretty cool.

[crazy canuck]

Sooo... Iberia has announced they'll be starting a blimp service between Mallorca and Valencia/Barcelona in 2026 

They will be using this: https://www.hybridairvehicles.com/our-aircraft/airlander-10/

I have to admit I can't see the advantages to blimp travel over ships and ferries, and never mind conventional aircraft.

It's essentially a sustainability play. They claim it will have 90% less emmissions than an equivalent flight. It will take 4h vs 1h by plane or 2h by fast boat.

Now I can't see it being more than a novelty at this stage, but it's a way to test the waters (I hope just figuratively).

It will be filled with drunken British tourists, so mitigates the harm while working out the kinks.

[Josquius]

I'll believe it when I see it. I'm sure ideas like this have been floated a lot.

Look mammy. I did a pun.

[Barrister]

It's essentially a sustainability play. They claim it will have 90% less emmissions than an equivalent flight. It will take 4h vs 1h by plane or 2h by fast boat.

Now I can't see it being more than a novelty at this stage, but it's a way to test the waters (I hope just figuratively).

I knew it wouldn't compare well to conventional aircraft, but it's still that much slower than boat?  Sea travel is not all that carbon-intensive a way to travel.  And if you're really worried about greenhouse gasses it'd probably be easier to just go by sailboat.

[Admiral Yi]

It's a great idea.

How about pedal powered personal blimps for daily commutes?  Could you generate enough speed just by pedaling?

[celedhring]

It's essentially a sustainability play. They claim it will have 90% less emmissions than an equivalent flight. It will take 4h vs 1h by plane or 2h by fast boat.

Now I can't see it being more than a novelty at this stage, but it's a way to test the waters (I hope just figuratively).

I knew it wouldn't compare well to conventional aircraft, but it's still that much slower than boat?  Sea travel is not all that carbon-intensive a way to travel.  And if you're really worried about greenhouse gasses it'd probably be easier to just go by sailboat.

That's the fast catamaran ferry, standard one is 5-6h

[Sheilbh]

I have to admit I can't see the advantages to blimp travel over ships and ferries, and never mind conventional aircraft.

As with night trains, an increased likelihood of a murder mystery requiring a Belgian detective little grey cells

(I assume all airships will be fully equipped with an Art Deco interior, bar with a grand piano and everyone in evening wear.)

[Jacob]

For blimps vs planes, the advantage of blimps is that that there's significant less fuel required to keep the craft aloft. That has both environmental and economic benefits. The economic benefits also increases the chance that the mode of travel will be more comfortable on average for the price (passengers could have more space, more resources could be dedicated to in-flight service).

While it's new, I expect that travel by blimp will have an embarkation experience superior to the average airport experience.

I expect part of the reason for the Valencia/ Barcelona to Mallorca route at this point is that there are much fewer regulatory obstacles to flying over the sea vs flying over land. But once the technology matures and becomes commonplace, blimps will have a significant advantage over travel by ferry (even fast ferries) - namely that they can reach landlocked destinations.

[Barrister]

For blimps vs planes, the advantage of blimps is that that there's significant less fuel required to keep the craft aloft. That has both environmental and economic benefits. The economic benefits also increases the chance that the mode of travel will be more comfortable on average for the price (passengers could have more space, more resources could be dedicated to in-flight service).

While it's new, I expect that travel by blimp will have an embarkation experience superior to the average airport experience.

I expect part of the reason for the Valencia/ Barcelona to Mallorca route at this point is that there are much fewer regulatory obstacles to flying over the sea vs flying over land. But once the technology matures and becomes commonplace, blimps will have a significant advantage over travel by ferry (even fast ferries) - namely that they can reach landlocked destinations.

Blimps are expensive and slow however.

I assume the reason for this route is that the blimp is competing with boats.  On land it would be competing with road and rail, both of which are faster and cheaper.  On water it's competing with ferries, so at least the argument is a bit closer.