🦿 Lucian Marin I wonder if it's possible to build a zeppelin made out entirely of aluminum. Or just use aluminum for the main parts: helium chambers and propeller. Carbon fiber could be used for the rest of the aircraft.

☕ David Antoine I guess that would be possible for the structural frame, just like modern aircraft. Carbon fiber would probably be more useful for the helium "tanks" instead of the more comparatively heavy Aluminium. I think SpaceX is testing carbon fiber tanks for their rockets. Maybe the technology will then "top down" to zeppelin-style ships... But when thinking about it, carbon fiber tanks should be more easy to make for non-compressed helium at air temperature, but I'm not sure. It's way more complicated to build tanks for ultra-cold liquid rocket propellants or coolants ... So maybe that should be more easy to do for a Zeppelin...

🦿 Lucian Marin I think zeppelin-style ships can be remade using modern technology. The commercial flights of Airbus A380 carry around 500 passengers. What if we could carry 1000 or 2000 people with one flight using less fuel (or even go full electric)? Travel time might double, but conform will be appreciated too.

☕ David Antoine Why not, like in the alternate earth of the 'Fringe' TV show (if I remember), no aircraft, only Zeppelin ships :) I think the max configuration of the A380 is already around 850 pax... We could certainly go up to 2000 or 3000 pax but I'm not sure it would translate in mass transportation like commercial aviation today. They would be like the sky equivalent of cruise ships at sea I think. They would be faster but I don't see those big boys going over 100 or 150 knots...