An Aviation Show That Will Warp Your Brain

Annalee Newitz — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:14:53 PST

This crazy shot of aeronautics insanity with multi-colored exhaust smoke was just one of the many weird sights last week in Guangdong Province, China, during the 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. Check out the planes up close, and see what the experience did to one extreme fan.

This airshow fan had planes on the brain - literally. Not only does he have awesome eye bling, but he actually stuck acupuncture needles into his forehead topped with planes. That's devotion for you.

Photos via China Photos/Getty Images.

Oh Canada, Bring Me My Zeppelin

Annalee Newitz — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:39:49 PDT

Canada has at last entered the Zeppelin Age, and it looks as if Calgary, Alberta will be the first city to make the leap into an alternate history where people use giant, helium-filled balloons to move stuff around instead of trucks or trains. A Calgary-based company called SkyHook, working with Boeing, has developed what they call the Jess Heavy Lifter (JHL-40) or a "blimp on steroids." This is no pleasure cruiser, though. It's seriously mega, and will be used for transporting heavy loads in areas of northern Canada where there are no roads.

According to the CBC:

The JHL-40 takes elements of a blimp and a helicopter to lift up to 40 tonnes in one load and travel up to 320 kilometres without refuelling. It will have a top speed of 70 knots. Company officials said Tuesday the aircraft should help oil and gas companies in particular because they'll be able to use it to transport equipment and materials without having to build roads in remote regions.

The zeppelins are going to be rolled out in 2012. I'm looking forward to passenger model to take me up to northern Saskatchewan, so I can hang out by the lakes all summer long in a land without roads. (Thanks, Andrew!)

Blimp on Steroids [CBC]

io9: mega aerospace

An Aviation Show That Will Warp Your Brain

Oh Canada, Bring Me My Zeppelin