Zeppelins are Back
 

A company in Japan bought the first new Zeppelin rolled out by the original company. It uses helium for lift.

Revived Zeppelin Delivered to First User

I was looking at another German company that was developing lighter than air ships a few years back, but I don't believe they were rigid frame.

http://www.zeppelin-nt.com/images/zeppgross.jpg

Zeppelins are not new to Japan. Here is some history on LTA Japan.

What interests me is the difference in fuel consumption. Technically, the new Zeppelin is slightly heavier than air and depends on its engine for lift. What is the difference in fuel to take 12 passengers 500 miles instead of in a small jet?

From the link
Awarded? Reparations? Japan?:confused:

What's the difference between a zeppelin and a blimp?

:)

I believe that Zeppelins have a rigid frame where blimps are just inflated balloons.

Zeppelin was the name of the German company which produced them, and of the Count who founded the company. Blimp is an American name, and refers to non-rigid airships. Dirigible (meaning steerable balloon) is the French word.

It's cool that they've sold one. However, what they've sold is a passenger/tourist novelty ship. It won't get really exciting until they start selling Zeppelins for industrial or technical use.

National Helium Reserves
 

I can't find the old articles that I used to have on this but there used to be a National Helium Reserve for the dirigible fleet during WWII that was still maintained in that capacity until 1975.

If I can find it I'll post it.

That's right, when I worked for Tufts Unv., we flew research balloons from Alamogordo, NM. The only place we could get a large quantity of helium was from the feds. $1 for 1 pound lift. :)
BTW, it was for the Blimp fleet.

Blimps are used in the Belgian Army for parachute training... Jumped 4 times out of one. http://www.rma.ac.be/RMAdotNet/binar...px?T=P&ID=2274

is that because it's easier than a plane?

A while back I was reading up on Helium and how, unlike hydrogen, it is a finite resource. I actually asked my broker about it. Also, the goverment is selling off its reserves.

I should think a tethered blimp would be perfect for that. straight up over the target, holds position while they pry your fingers off the ropes and throw you out, then right back down for another load.:)

Bruce you're so right...
And maybe it's not easier to jump out of a blimp. In a C-130, if you're not the first to jump, you don't see what's happening and those behind you are pushing. You don't have the time to think because otherwise you will miss the DZ. In a blimp you're static, you are standing in the door, looking 400ft down. And you have time... No good! So you have to do the first step and yiiihaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa