"Aeroscraft" Ever Hear Of It?

Originally this was pitched for luxury passenger air travel. Unfortunately since it's first inception the military has provided research funding and that is what will most likely evolve first.

It's quite revolutionary. An entirely new conceptual model for the flying public. Even though the Aeroscraft dwarfs the largest commercial airliners, it requires less net space on the ground than any plane because it doesn't need a runway. The airship takes off and lands like a helicopter, straight up and down.

This is not a Blimp. Unlike its dirigible ancestors, the Aeroscraft is not lighter than air. It's 14 million cubic feet of helium hoist only two-thirds of the craft's weight. Driven by huge rear-ward propellers, it generates enough additional lift to keep the behemoth and its 400-ton payload aloft while cruising. During takeoff and landing, six turbo-fan jet engines push the ship up or ease its descent. It's two-football-fields-long!

It is being developed by a California firm, Worldwide Aeros Corporation, which has created a prototype. The craft would have a range of several thousand miles and, with an estimated top speed of 100-130 mph it could traverse the continental United States in about 20 hours.

During the flight, passengers would view national landmarks just 8,000 feet below. The cavernous interior would easily accommodate such amenities as luxury staterooms, restaurants - - even a casino.

To minimize noise, the aft-mounted propellers will be electric, powered by a renewable source such as hydrogen fuel cells. A sophisticated buoyancy - management system will serve the same purpose as trim on an airplane, allowing for precise adjustments in flight dynamics to compensate for outside conditions and passenger movement. The automated system will draw outside air into compartments throughout the ship and compress it to manage onboard weight.

Here was the concept video for passenger air travel

Here are more details regarding it's design



Like I mentioned earlier the major funding for this air vehicle is now coming from the military.



My hope is in the future the craft will evolve into luxury air cruises for civilian passengers. I suppose developers have to go where the money is provided for now. It would be really nice if the original design for passenger air travel would eventually become a reality. Who knows, maybe the current ocean cruise industry might be interested and someday offer this as part of a cruise package. I for one, would be very interesting in a booking.