Showing posts with label dirigibles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dirigibles. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Inhabitat: Roland Cernat's Beautiful Sustaino-Glider!




Beyond gorgeous and made out of fully recyclable materials, the Oriens Glider by Roland Cernat really tosses down the ol' gauntlet on conventional plane design.



According to a post on inhabitat today:

"He describes his Oriens Glider as “A plane with [a] reinvented lifecycle based on the Cradle-to-Cradle principle. It combines an ecological energy concept and sustainable materials, with an organic design language and bionic inspired details”.

Cernat’s concept is governed by a “designed-for-disassembly” philosophy based upon the Cradle-to-Cradle ideals, thus all of its materials are easily recyclable. The glider’s frame is constructed out of a lightweight flax bio-compound that is CO2 neutral, recyclable, and its transparent body is constructed out of polycarbonate, which can be repeatedly recycled without compromising its integrity.

The glider’s wings are crested with photovoltaic cells that provide for emissions-free flight, and an electric motor houses a propeller that retracts when gliding for increased efficiency. For safety and practicality, a fuel engine and generator allows the plane to operate as a hybrid."



Actually, thinking about it, the Oriens could be the great-grandson of the famous Bell Helicopter.



Could be related, no?

We'd love a clear bio-acrylic zeppelin! Yum!

Thanks for the tip inhabitat!
And thanks for the inspirato Roland Cernat!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

NY Times: A New Age For Dirigibles



Hello All,

We just ran across a great piece about airships in the NY Times, with some beautiful photos accompanying.

Beautiful photos like this:



Nice, right?

Ah... what could be...

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Stephane Rousson's Pedal-Powered Flying Machine!



Stephane Rousson
is a Frenchman who dearly loves being airborne.
The pilot and adventurer is going to attempt an English Channel crossing in a pedal-powered dirigible. While the human angle fascinates me, I'm really gaga over the flying machine.

Check it:










As material sciences advance, and we are able to build lighter and stronger structures, and motors and power supplies similarly shrink in mass and increase in power, there's no reason a new wave of commercially available, human-powered dirigibles couldn't be offered. And what fun that would be!

Here's to the skies!