Chinese Airship

[GTX]

Not a journalist I place a lot of credence with so take with pinch of salt:

Satellite photos reveal colossal airship hangar in Chinese desert

Keen to know if other sources on this.

 

[riggerrob]

How much helium does the Chinese petroleum industry produce every year?

 

[Nick]

That hangar is about 350m long and 140m wide. The big hangars at Cardington or Lakehurst are around 250m by 75m.

There's a lot more stuff here about other military buildings in the region.

Facility near Bosten Lake, Xinjiang China — Possibly Airship Hangar

This article aims to document the analysis of several sites in Xinjiang, China, notably a hangar which is presumed to house airships.

tompatrickjarvis.medium.com

 

[fortrena]

The following articles may perhaps be of interest, if the links work...

Hybrid airships to support mining operation in Quebec - Skies Mag

Straightline Aviation and Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding for seven LMH-1 airships to help develop a huge deposit of rare earth metals.

skiesmag.com

Quebec defends $30 million Flying Whales investment - Skies Mag

The Quebec government is defending its decision to invest $30 million in a project to build blimps or airships to transport heavy equipment and supplies to remote areas of the province that lack roads.

skiesmag.com

Flying Whales reorganizes shareholders, prepares to develop activities in Quebec - Skies Mag

A project to build cargo airships in Quebec, which was blocked by the federal government due to Chinese involvement, could be relaunched.

skiesmag.com

Quebec invests $55M in Flying Whales' cargo airship project - Skies Mag

Quebec’s ambitious plan to build cargo airships is moving ahead with an investment of C$55 million from the province’s Investissement Québec.

skiesmag.com

 

[publiusr]

China could take the risk with hydrogen

 

[riggerrob]

China could take the risk with hydrogen.

This reminds me of a visit to a Canadian Army ammo dump when we had to surrender all our tobacco and lighters and cigarettes at the front gate.

The biggest challenge is banning recreational smoking of tobacco, marijuana, hashish, crack, etc. within flame range of the envelope. Perhaps search all employees every time they arrive on company property. Infrared security cameras would help catch violators inside the fence.

Do vape pipes produce temperatures hot enough to ignite hydrogen?
Please remember that Hindenburg's fatal fire was related to damage airframe damage suffered a day or three before she landed at Lakenhurst, New Jersey. Modern construction methods should eliminate most of the fire hazard.
Also remember that hydrogen is significantly lighter than helium, so the same size of envelope can lift a few tons more.

 

[jcf]

"Sit on the edge of space".

Uhh, I'm guessing that the writer doesn't grasp how high-altitude balloons actually work.
Building an "airship"; rigid, "blimp" or hybrid, that could function at that altitude ain't as
straightforward as the writer seems to believe.

 

[RavenOne]

sightings over off Philippine coast

Was A High-Altitude Airship Spotted Recently Near The South China Sea?

China, among others, has been exploring the capabilities offered by high-flying, far-traveling airships that can perform various missions.

www.thedrive.com

 

[publiusr]

Clearly a Zarkov design

 

[billybob]

Clearly a Zarkov design

Dr Hans Zarkov formerly of NASA?

 

[Grey Havoc]

Ah, the classics...

 

[publiusr]

Like Snoop Dog sez

Blimpin’ ain’t easy

 

[MadRat]

Interesting use of TF photovoltaics. Probably aerogel sheets they are tagged on.