Is it a bird, is it a plane, or is it an airbed that has motors?

[John S]

Take a look at this cool new air transport thingy, no pilot needed apparently. Could have a dramatic effect on aviation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12110386

[Ian]

Thats pretty cool John. 

[Canada Darrell™]

They've reinvented the wheel blimp! Someone hasn't told them that helium is rapidly becoming scarce and extremely expensive.

[cosworth151]

They've reinvented the wheel blimp! Someone hasn't told them that helium is rapidly becoming scarce and extremely expensive.

Not only that, but it makes the flight crew sound like Donald Duck.

I hope it works, but I've seen articles about next gen airships in mags like Popular Mechanics back to the 60's.

[David]

The test flights should see a rise in UFO sightings. I would put strange lights on them just for the craic. 

Seriously cool bit of tech all the same. 

[Jericoke]

They've reinvented the wheel blimp! Someone hasn't told them that helium is rapidly becoming scarce and extremely expensive.

Helium is a waste product in natural gas, and also nuclear reactions.  According to Wikipedia the proven reserves account for 58 years of use.

However, it does come almost exclusively from the USA.  (The Hindenberg used hyrdogen instead of helium because the US wasn't letting the Third Reich have helium.)

[Canada Darrell™]

They've reinvented the wheel blimp! Someone hasn't told them that helium is rapidly becoming scarce and extremely expensive.

Helium is a waste product in natural gas, and also nuclear reactions.  According to Wikipedia the proven reserves account for 58 years of use.

However, it does come almost exclusively from the USA.  (The Hindenberg used hyrdogen instead of helium because the US wasn't letting the Third Reich have helium.)

A quick search confirms why my facility is paying way more for helium these days and confirms what our supplier has been telling us about world reserves. We've had to stop using helium balloons for events as the average balloon costs us about $0.50 each to fill! 

http://www.physorg.com/news201853523.html

[Jericoke]

They've reinvented the wheel blimp! Someone hasn't told them that helium is rapidly becoming scarce and extremely expensive.

Helium is a waste product in natural gas, and also nuclear reactions.  According to Wikipedia the proven reserves account for 58 years of use.

However, it does come almost exclusively from the USA.  (The Hindenberg used hyrdogen instead of helium because the US wasn't letting the Third Reich have helium.)

A quick search confirms why my facility is paying way more for helium these days and confirms what our supplier has been telling us about world reserves. We've had to stop using helium balloons for events as the average balloon costs us about $0.50 each to fill! 

http://www.physorg.com/news201853523.html

It's kinda funny to think about running out of the second most common thing in the universe...

[Canada Darrell™]

time to start bottling all those cow farts!


AAAARRGHHHHH

Russia just scored to make it 4-3.......