/sci/ - Science & Math

If it were wouldn't we be doing it?

>>6580496
too slow and more expensive than boats

The speed of something with the aerodynamics of an air balloon. Art thou serious? You could say lift the baloon higher, like planes to reduce drag, but then it gets cold and the gases lifting the balloon would almost certainly change phase to liquid. Which would cause it to have a higher density than the gas around it. There is also the chance of it exploding due to high temps. And finally, I've never seen even big balloons carry a significant mass. Relative to the size of a transport plane. Which is about the same size but can carry several hundred tons.

>>6580517
But they can go places boats can't, and are still faster than cars and trucks. Zepplins and blimps, not hot air balloons
>>6580526
>>6580507
Because we got scared away by the Hindenburg

>>6580526
>but then it gets cold and the gases lifting the balloon would almost certainly change phase to liquid.
Helium weather balloons can reach altitudes of over 20 miles without phase change.

>>6580496
what's the point of a balloon aircraft if we will run out of helium within 10 years?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq-N3_plNq8

>>6580526
>then it gets cold and the gases lifting the balloon would almost certainly change phase to liquid

Jesus christ, how cold do you think it gets at high altitude? You seriously think -50 C is enough to liquify helium?

>>6580601
Helium isn't the only lighter than air gas we have access to

>>6580626
oh yeah that liquid hydrogen rain is even better
or were you planning on using water vapor as lifting gas?

>>6580507
>If it were wouldn't we be doing it?

>>6580626
>hydrogen to lift anything
It's like you've never heard of the Hindenburg, or a rocket before.

>>6580496
Too slow and unreliable because of weather.

Could be practical for delivering large objects not supported by transport infrastructure or delivering goods in the areas without any transport infrastructure because of vertical take off and landing. But such markets are small and up t p date were not able to support return of the dirigibles.

>>6580526
>but then it gets cold and the gases lifting the balloon would almost certainly change phase to liquid
Yeah, liquid helium will form inside a fucking balloon.

There really isn't much of a niche for it. It would be several times the cost of airplane freight and probably hundreds of times the cost of ships and trains. So basically it would only be useful to get to places those can't, which is almost nowhere.