I really want to see one of these things when it is fully built. Zeppelins were such an imaginative and luxurious form of travel back in the 1930's and all Nazi-fication aside, the sight of the Graf Zeppelin or Hindenberg majestically gliding through the sky must have been astounding. I think these things could be very cool for the traveler who wants to get someplace but is not in a hurry, a counter to the airport culture we have now.

Not for me. They're too easy to shoot down.

I can't wait. Riding in a zep is so much more fun than a plane, almost no noise at all and a much better view.

Wouldn't elimiate the need for airports though, would elimiate the need for runways but not the port itself.

Oh my, get out of the way please!

I only want to ride in a zep if it actually has those big giant sparkles on it like in the picture.

Do they come with a cool little monkey like in the Golden Compass?

Yes! I want to live in a Steampunk world!

Couple of Comments- Airships are not easy to shootdown. Yes they are big targets but bullets do nothing but punch holes in the fabric. The interior pressure is only about 1-3 inches of water or less than 0.01 PSI. I know of a aerostat that was shot 21 times by a hunter which produced 84 holes (42 in the outer hull and 42 in the ballonet). The flight crew didn't even notice for three weeks and then only because the helium purity was declining.

Two- Worldwide Aeros does not have the best reputation within the industry. Lockheed's P-791 is a more commercially viable hybrid airship.

@jennaw: doesn't everybody? well maybe not the cyberpunkers. i personally like it both ways.

i have been WAITING for this day!

Steampunk with cyberpunk tangents is fine by me. Just hold on the body modifications. Cause. Ew.

bb gun = bad day

@soleil-moon-pie: Agreed.

But damn does that look awesome.

If you love zeppelins, you have to check out the recently published All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, edited by David Moles and Jay Lake. Highly entertaining stories -- my favorite is Ben Rosenbaum's "Biographical Notes", although it's pretty meta-zeppelin-ish, so you should definitely read all the others first.

@ltcmurray: Right, 'cause they're going to make it out of paper? Space-age fabrics, people! SPACE-AGE FABRICS! It's almost like finally getting my HOVER CAR!

@tetracycloide:
F'n Cyperpunks... cool clothes, though. Oh, all right! ALL punks welcome in this beautiful future.

love how one of the deZeen scenarios for this thing includes participation in some middle eastern war. talk about thinking for the future!

@jennaw: even male prostitutes?

@tetracycloide: If it's their career choice, and they're responsible professionals, sure!

Thank goodness Aeros doesn't specialize in heavier-than-air blimps.

It's about time Zeppelins are back!
I wonder what the flight attendants safety speech will be like... "in case of a slow bump into a building, please stay seated as we bounce off and float in the other direction"

@nmcglynn: complete with sunchronized hand motions!

Getting closer. I'd take a 36 hour flight on an airship/blimp over a 12 hour flight on a plane any day.

It'd be nice if we had commercial fusion to go along with developments in lighter-than-air travel, though. That way the helium won't run out.

@nmcglynn: *still giggling quietly to self over this comment*

@technodestructo: really depends on how much cabin space you have. Cause 36 hours in a tiny airplane seat without a lounge? fuck that. Get a lounge, a bar, a dining car. Basically make the entire thing like BA's Emerald Class, you're in business. Except only in the rich bitch business. I could see Kanye having a few of these though.

@aspiringexpatriate: i'm not so sure. the majority of the costs revolving around airplane flights is that you have to pay for everything you put on board with absurdly expensive jet fuel. considering a zeppelin is lighter than air and does not need to maintain high speeds to stay aloft i'm betting that the engines on a zeppelin get better millage than conventional jets.

Well then bring them on. Just keep the BB-Guns away from the terrorists.

@aspiringexpatriate: I *said* Space-Age Fabrics!

Is widespread use of zeppelins really feasible?

For one thing, how do they deal with rough weather? I just took a plane flight in snow and high winds, at both airports and in the middle; could a zeppelin have flown?

For another, where are we supposed to get the helium? (Or, how do we make hydrogen safe enough to use?) Almost all the helium on earth is produced by the radioactive decay of uranium; there's plenty for current use because it builds up in natural gas reservoirs, but if demand increases drastically, particularly as we run short of natural gas, the price will skyrocket...