Dirigibles
Posted: September 14th, 2012, 12:49 pm
Okay, let's go totally off the wall here.
A few days ago, the Strib carried an article about helium-filled dirigibles being built for military use. http://www.startribune.com/business/168995516.html
Very low fuel costs and the relatively small area needed for takeoff and landing distinguish these from regular air travel.
What if similar dirigibles were to transport passengers over the medium distances envisioned for high-speed rail?
Let's say a dirigible about 300 feel long could carry, say, 200 passengers at 150 miles per hour. No airport needed, but with the mast mooring and tie-down track for the tail to swivel with the wind, you'd need a circle of about 600 feet of relatively open land, as close to the center cities as possible, preferably next to an LRT or Northstar station.
I'm no expert on the wind velocity that might keep these babies from flying or how much room would be needed to safely maneuver them to the mooring mast, but if terminals and support could be built for around $100 million each in Duluth and the Twin Cities and each dirigible could be bought for around $30 million, a fleet of 5 (two running each way + one backup) would cost a total of $350 million. This compared to an estimated $1 billion for a high-speed rail line.
Wacky, but a helluva lot of fun to think about! Great views, too! I'd ride.
A few days ago, the Strib carried an article about helium-filled dirigibles being built for military use. http://www.startribune.com/business/168995516.html
Very low fuel costs and the relatively small area needed for takeoff and landing distinguish these from regular air travel.
What if similar dirigibles were to transport passengers over the medium distances envisioned for high-speed rail?
Let's say a dirigible about 300 feel long could carry, say, 200 passengers at 150 miles per hour. No airport needed, but with the mast mooring and tie-down track for the tail to swivel with the wind, you'd need a circle of about 600 feet of relatively open land, as close to the center cities as possible, preferably next to an LRT or Northstar station.
I'm no expert on the wind velocity that might keep these babies from flying or how much room would be needed to safely maneuver them to the mooring mast, but if terminals and support could be built for around $100 million each in Duluth and the Twin Cities and each dirigible could be bought for around $30 million, a fleet of 5 (two running each way + one backup) would cost a total of $350 million. This compared to an estimated $1 billion for a high-speed rail line.
Wacky, but a helluva lot of fun to think about! Great views, too! I'd ride.