FOR SALE: large, slow moving target.

[DrLeftover]

The world’s largest aircraft which can stay airborne for up to three weeks and will be vital in delivering several tonnes of humanitarian aid as well as transporting heavy freight across the world, has been unveiled.

The 300ft (91m) ship is part plane, airship and helicopter, and there are plans to eventually use it to transport hundreds of tonnes of freight across difficult terrain throughout the world as well as deliver aid to risky areas.

It is environmentally friendly, being part airship filled with inert helium, and will also be used for surveillance and communications. Developers hope to make more of the 'green vehicles' which they hope to make capable of taking off from land, water, desert, ice and fields.

Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV), which created the hybrid craft, said they expect there to be as many airships as helicopters in the sky in years to come as they provide an environmentally friendly and efficient solution to transporting dozens of tonnes of freight and reaching hard to access areas.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/greenertransport/10667081/Worlds-largest-aircraft-unveiled-and-hailed-game-changer.html

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

*points my rocket launcher at it*

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Why do the lefty crazies have to ruin anything remotely cool with there green crap agenda. I can see it being useful but not for risky areas as the article says.

 

[Evil Eye]

100mph isn't that slow. It'll be faster than most non-flying targets.

 

[DrLeftover]

No, 100mph isn't slow, but given the SIZE of the target.... yeah, I think I could hit that with my hunting rifle from a decent distance. And as it is a gasbag, a couple of thirty caliber holes would make it an interesting day for the pilot.

NOTE for reference. I was able to hit a sheet of typing paper with the rifle from the 100 yard line with the normal sites. Scopes bother my eyes.

Now, do you want to try to fly it back out of, say, one of the "-stan" countries after making your delivery?

 

[Evil Eye]

I'm quite confident that one could cut a 1 sq m hole into that balloon without it coming down for at least a few hours.

However, I wouldn't want to fly over any such countries, no. That doesn't mean it's not useful to have a vehicle that can move tonnes of freight without needing any infrastructure to speak of.